As the new director of dining at Iowa State University, Mohamed Ali has ambitious goals to revamp its foodservice into a top-tier program.
His overall mission is to create a diverse menu and ensure the dining program is successful in the long term, ultimately making it one of the best programs in the nation. How does he plan to go about it? It all starts with a conversation, he says.
“I’m still new and I have some ideas,” he said. “But first I want to talk to the students and faculty to see what they want and need.”
After those initial talks, it all comes down to creating a team that collaborates, which he does by not only talking with his staff, but also listening to their opinions.
“It’s all about ensuring there’s a clear and transparent way of making decisions collectively,” he said. “I love to work with people and I’m very team oriented, which was a key factor for the university when hiring for this position. So for me, it’s all about making sure the team comes together, discusses ideas and takes advantage of our strengths so that we can reach the goals we’ve set forth.”
Ali brings more than 20 years of experience to his new role, which he assumed Jan. 11, and will oversee the university’s campus dining services, including four dining centers, as well as 17 retail operations and central food stores.
As with any new opportunity, there are challenges, and Ali says one of the biggest for him is meeting—and satisfying—the needs of an expanding, diverse student body.
“They’re looking for a more stable dining program, with more healthy, vegan and vegetarian options,” he said. “We’ll also have to meet any other dietary restrictions they may have depending on their preference, which is a challenge in itself.”
Though the challenges will be tough, they’ll create many opportunities to revamp the university’s foodservice into something special, Ali noted. “I’m excited because we have a great culinary team, with amazing chefs who will make sure we are providing what students are seeking. It’s all about planning and making sure it happens, so the wealth of talent and creativity amongst us is definitely going to make things easier.”