A-B Tech dedicated the main dining room in the Magnolia Building of The Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality to long-time Associate Dean Chef Sheila Tillman on March 27 during a reception with the American Culinary Federation (ACF). The dining room will now be known as the Chef Sheila A. Tillman Dining Room.
Chef Tillman is a 1988 graduate of A-B Tech's Culinary Arts program who had a storied 28-year career at the College before retiring in December 2017. She oversaw the Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, Hospitality Management, and Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast programs. She also was responsible for the design of the Brumit Center, founded the baking and brewing curriculum programs and wrote the curricula for the state of North Carolina, established the College's relationship with the ACF, sent 10 student culinary teams to the ACF National Competition, and was a charter member of Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.
In recognition of her many contributions, the A-B Tech Board of Trustees unanimously approved President Dennis King's proposal to rename the dining room for Chef Tillman. In his dedication remarks, Dr. King said the one word that describes Chef Tillman is "excellence."