Rick Mathieu serves as president of Johnson & Wales University’s Charlotte campus. Johnson & Wales is a public university with 1,200 students enrolled in Charlotte. It’s located in the heart of Charlotte’s Third Ward.
Mathieu arrived at Johnson & Wales in January of 2023, and before that, he was the dean of the McColl College of Business at Queens University of Charlotte.
On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Mathieu sat down with The Ledger’s Cristina Bolling on campus of Johnson & Wales to talk about what's new at the university, his take on the state of higher education, and how Johnson & Wales fits into the greater Charlotte community. Mathieu also discusses:
His background in higher education, having started as a professor at UNC Wilmington and rising through the academic ranks.
Johnson & Wales’s history in Charlotte, where it played a significant role in developing the culinary and hospitality industry.
Future plans, including launching a nursing program and focusing on holistic health and wellness.
His belief that students need to develop soft skills alongside technical proficiency.
The benefits of smaller universities like Johnson & Wales compared with larger institutions.
The importance of diversity in learning to collaborate effectively with people from different backgrounds.
Challenges in higher education, including cost control.
His newfound appreciation for the culinary world and the role of food in Charlotte's culture.
We hope you enjoy the conversation with Rick Mathieu.
The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.
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What's new at Charlotte's Johnson & Wales campus, with President Rick Mathieu