Kirk Rodriguez earns prestigious Minah Award

Collegiate foodservice association presents its highest honor

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – Kirk D. Rodriguez of Texas Tech University has received the highest honor awarded by the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS), the Theodore W. Minah Distinguished Service Award. The recognition was presented Wednesday during a special reception at the NACUFS 2025 National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Rodriguez was celebrated for more than 30 years of service in collegiate dining, including his pivotal leadership as NACUFS chairman from 2019–2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rodriguez, senior director of hospitality services and student union and activities at Texas Tech, has served the TTU community in progressive leadership roles since 1994 when he started as an assistant dining manager. In his current position, he oversees more than $50 million in annual revenue across dining, catering, retail, and student union operations, directing strategic initiatives that have transformed campus hospitality and student engagement.

“I feel truly honored and humbled to receive the Theodore Minah Award,” said Rodriguez. “It is a culmination of years of passion, dedication, and teamwork in a field that I care deeply about, and what makes the Minah award most meaningful, is that my peers thought I was deserving of this award. The downside is that it is awarded to one individual, as it is truly the efforts of so many. This recognition not only celebrates my efforts but also highlights the incredible team and community that has supported me along the way, and it is a reminder of the impact we can make when we work together toward a common goal.”

A champion of innovation, inclusion, and workforce development, Rodriguez helped launch the Burkhart Café, a vocational training site operated in partnership with the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research, and developed a cook certification program to support culinary career pathways within his team. His service to NACUFS includes roles as national conference chair, education committee chair, and president of the Southern Region. In 2022, he received the Richard Lichtenfelt Award, recognizing his exceptional leadership.

Rodriguez holds both bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Tech University and is a recipient of the 2024 Silver Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA). He remains an active contributor to the industry through speaking engagements, advisory roles, and civic service in the Lubbock community.

 “In our field, food is the vehicle, but community is the destination,” Rodriguez said.

The Theodore W. Minah Distinguished Service Award has been presented annually since 1967 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to NACUFS and the collegiate foodservice profession. Previous winners can be found at www.NACUFS.org/MinahPastWinners.