Uyen Pham '04, CEC, M.Ed.

Associate Professor, The Culinary Institute of America

Chef Pham is a distinguished culinary educator and chef whose work sits at the intersection of health, sustainability, and global cuisine—core pillars of the Culinary Institute of America’s Menus of Change initiative. With a Master’s degree in education and a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from the University of Houston, she brings a rare academic lens to the kitchen, grounding culinary innovation in nutrition and human performance. A 2004 graduate of the CIA, Chef Pham trained in New York City under acclaimed chefs including Gray Kunz, Alfred Portale, and Anita Lo before advancing her career in Seattle and San Antonio. Since joining the CIA San Antonio campus in 2017, she has taught culinary and baking students and opened the award-winning restaurant SAVOR. A UNESCO Chef Ambassador and advocate for food recovery and equitable food systems, Chef Pham’s work embodies the Menus of Change mission—leveraging culinary leadership to shape healthier, more sustainable, and culturally grounded food futures. (Austin, TX) @chefuyenpham