Joseph Charette named executive director at Rutgers

Sept. 8—After a national search that began last October, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in New Brunswick, has announced that Joseph Charette is its new executive director of dining services.

Charette has been part of the dining services team at Rutgers for the past 22 years, most recently serving as associate director of dining services. Charette will assume his new position when Charles Sams, current executive director of dining services, retires at the end of the month.

Speaking to The Daily Targum, the campus newspaper, Vice President of Student Affairs Gregory Blimling said: "Joe's experience, his great depth of knowledge about dining service, his very successful record as the associate director of Dining Services, his knowledge of Rutgers University and how we work with him in the institution made my decision very easy to hire him. I am amazed at the depth of his knowledge about various kinds of food service operations and about what is necessary to make those operations successful."

Charette has been with the department since 1989. As the associate director, Charette managed operations in the dining halls, working with food buyers, concessions, catering and cash operations. Prior to Rutgers, he worked in restaurants, including Bennigan's franchises in the Southwest. Charette attended Rutgers’ Cook College, where he double majored in environmental science and agricultural science.