Street Cred

If I just must, here it is:  My name is Jane A. Nickles and I have been a full-time wine educator/culinary educator/academic director for culinary colleges for over 15 years.  Previously, I was a food and beverage director and executive chef  for a large hotel chain.

I am/have/like to talk about my/am embarrassed by my:

M.B.A., California State University

B.A., University of California at Berkeley

Certified Spirits Educator (Society of Wine Educators)

Certified Wine Educator (Society of Wine Educators)

2012 Banfi Award Winner – Society of Wine Educators

2009 Winner – Professional Wine Writers Competition – WOSA (Wines of South Africa)

Currently the Director of Education for the Society of Wine Educators

14 Years Full-time Chef Instructor and Wine Educator at Le Cordon Bleu College – Austin

6 Years Food and Beverage Director (Bristol Hotels and Resorts)

Published Author (Textbooks, Journals, Web)

Educator of the Year – Career Education Corporation – 2007

Educator of the Year –  Career Education Corporation -2009

The “Ultimate Culinary Educator” – Food Educator’s Learning Conference – 2009

Number One Rated Conference Speaker – 35th Annual Conference of the Society of Wine Educators (Washington, DC)

Conference Sessions led, Classes given – literally too many to count!

Bored Yet?

It’s a living…

Breakfast of Champions...aka 9:30 am Class

Welcome to the Bubbly Professor…a new blog about the life of a wine educator.

Wine tastings, wine classes, and wine dinners are part of being a full-time wine educator, but it’s a package deal that includes grading finals, reading papers, and schlepping boxes as well.   It’s a glamorous job, for sure, if you only count the 5% of the day that includes the flashy fun.

As for me, I have the expected credentials (see  “street cred” ) and the experience:  I am a chef instructor and wine educator for an accredited culinary college in Texas, have taught wine classes full time for over 15 years, and in my former life served stints as executive chef, sommelier, and food and beverage director.  Known to friends, family, and students as “Miss Jane” of Austin, Texas.