NACUFS Engage

One-day regional events for campus dining professionals

NACUFS Engage brings campus dining professionals together for a focused, one-day experience designed to spark connection, conversation, and practical takeaways. Hosted on campuses across the country, these regional events offer an accessible way to engage with peers, share ideas, and step back from day-to-day demands to focus on what’s next.

Each Engage event is shaped by the region it serves, while staying grounded in the shared challenges and opportunities facing collegiate dining today.

"What I love about these programs, especially the new Engage format, is the accessibility. They prove that you don’t need to cross the country or break the budget to get world-class insights. These are 'quick-hit' professional development wins—focused, local, and designed to get our team inspired and back in the dining hall with fresh ideas in record time, and build relationships with people who are a car ride (rather than a plane flight) away."

Elizabeth Riede

Executive director of campus dining, Appalachian State University

2026 Engage locations and dates

Midwest

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) | March 3

NACUFS Engage: Midwest

Northeast

Boston College (Boston, Massachusetts) | March 5

NACUFS Engage: Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

George Washington University (Washington, D.C.) | March 10

NACUFS Engage: Mid-Atlantic

Southern

 Georgia State University (Atlanta, Georgia) | March 13

NACUFS Engage: Southern

Pacific

University of Washington (Seattle, Washington) | March 24

NACUFS Engage: Pacific

Continental

Date and location coming soon!

"Having my team connect with NACUFS members across our region and beyond has been incredibly valuable and helps build a well‑rounded support network. I’m hopeful that regional events like Engage will continue to be accessible so we can keep opening doors for our future leaders to experience the power of the NACUFS community. "

Peter Testory

Director of Dining & Culinary Services, University of Wisconsin-Madison Housing

"When the employees who participate in NACUFS events return to the campus, they are energized and better equipped to execute their duties and responsibilities, more willing to share their experiences to enhance the overall operations in delivering quality food, caring customer service, and overall better deliverables to our students and the wider University community. This promotes employee retention, account stability, career development opportunities, and encourages others to experience NACUFS's training, programs, and events."

Christopher Toote, PhD, MBA

Executive Director, University of Chicago Dining