Johnson & Wales University

Johnson & Wales University, often called JWU, is a private university located mainly in Providence, Rhode Island, in the United States. It started as a business school in 1914 thanks to two women named Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales. By the fall of 2020, the university had around 7,357 students studying at its different campuses. JWU is recognized as a quality school by a group called the New England Commission of Higher Education, which makes sure schools meet certain standards for teaching and learning.

History

1914–1947

Johnson & Wales Business School started in September 1914 in Providence, Rhode Island. It was created by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales, who met while studying in Pennsylvania. They were teachers at a business school in Providence and decided to open their own. The school began with just one student and one typewriter on Hope Street. It later moved to bigger places, including downtown, to help veterans after World War I. Students learned subjects like bookkeeping, typing, shorthand, English, and math. Both boys and girls could attend.

1947–1963

In June 1947, Johnson and Wales sold the school to Edward Triangelo and Morris Gaebe because of their age and health. At that time, about 100 students attended. Triangelo and Gaebe helped the school grow fast. The school got national approval in 1954 and became a junior college in 1960.

1963–present

The school became a nonprofit organization in 1963. Edward P. Triangolo was the first president from 1963 to 1969. In the 1960s and 1970s, the school expanded in downtown Providence, buying old hotel and store buildings. Morris Gaebe was president from 1969 to 1989 and later became chancellor. He started a program for hospitality in 1972, which became very popular. The school changed its name to Johnson & Wales University in 1988, often called JWU. By 2016, JWU had 16,000 students and over 2,400 workers in four cities. The school closed its campuses in Denver and North Miami after the 2020–21 school year.

Campuses

Providence

The Providence campus has programs in business, hospitality, and technology. It opened in 1914. There is also a smaller campus in Cranston, Rhode Island, for cooking and advanced studies that opened in 1985. Together, these campuses cover 176 acres with many places to live, eat, and relax.

Charlotte

The Charlotte campus started in 2002 and opened in 2004. It is located in Uptown Charlotte and has three places to live, two places to eat, and a center for sports and fitness. In 2024, Johnson & Wales planned to make changes to the campus, including closing one building and changing a hotel into more student housing.

Former locations

• North Miami, Florida (1992–2021)
• Denver, Colorado (2000–2021)
• Charleston, South Carolina (1984–2006)
• Norfolk, Virginia (1986–2006)

Academics

Johnson & Wales University has six main areas of study across its campuses: Business, Food Innovation and Technology, Hospitality, Health & Wellness, Engineering & Design, and Arts & Sciences.

The Providence campus includes the Business and Hospitality colleges, as well as Arts & Sciences and Engineering & Design. It also has a Graduate School, a Culinary Arts College, and a School of Education. The university is especially famous for its culinary arts program, though it began with business and hospitality studies. Students can choose from many online degree programs, too.

Greek life

Providence campuses

The Providence Downcity and Harborside campuses have 15 fraternities and sororities, plus two social groups. These groups are led by four main organizations: the InterFraternity Council (IFC), the Panhellenic Council (PHC), the United Cultural Council (UCC), and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). While these groups have national or international connections, the university helps manage the Greek life community. There are also some groups not officially recognized by the university that still operate and welcome new members.

Athletics

All campuses of Johnson & Wales University have teams called the Wildcats. Their mascot is Willie T. Wildcat, also known as Wildcat Willie. The costume was redesigned in 2013 for the school's centennial year. Willie appears at games and special events, played by different students so he can attend many places.

The Providence campuses compete in NCAA Division III, mainly in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. They have many sports for men and women, including basketball, soccer, and ice hockey. The North Miami campus closed in 2021, ending its sports programs. The Charlotte campus joined NCAA Division III in 2025 and won a national championship in basketball in 2018. The Denver campus also closed in 2021, ending its sports teams. The Charleston and Norfolk campuses competed in the NAIA as independent schools in the past.

Awards

Johnson & Wales University has been honored with an induction into the Culinary Hall of Fame, recognizing its important contributions to culinary education.

Notable alumni

Johnson & Wales University has many successful graduates in different fields. Some well-known names include chefs like Michelle Bernstein, Sara Bradley, and Graham Elliot Bowles. Others have become famous in television, such as Rahman "Rock" Harper, who won a cooking competition, and Emeril Lagasse, a popular chef on TV. The university also counts politicians among its alumni, like Jeanine Calkin from the Rhode Island Senate.