Our Staff
Mindy Myers, Founder, Director
Miss Mindy has dedicated her life to helping children embrace that which is different. Through exposure to cooking and eating international foods, learning about cultural nuances, and understanding world-wide celebrations and practices, children leave a Cooking Round the World experience with a broadened palette, and a desire to explore the world.
Stefen Thompson -Southern California Regional Manager/Company Researcher
Stefen is a dedicated employee of Cooking round the world of 5 years. She enjoys traveling with her 4 kids and Military husband. Loves to roll up her sleeves and cook for the homeless in her spare time.
Ryann Hai - Program Director
Ryann is a mom of two teenaged boys and two very active French bulldogs. She has a passion for animals and children, and in her spare time she likes to cook and garden.
Raven Grizzle -Northern California Regional Manager
Serenity Prescott- Administrator
Bella Bramell, Teacher and Office Manager
Chef Bella has been cooking for more than 15 years, finding a passion for cooking through making family dinners. She has worked with children from ages 1 – 12 and loves their creativity and excitement.
Jewel Vasquez: Inventory Manager
Karl Vonmecklenburg - Director of Technology
I have twenty five years experience working as an IT professional.
I enjoy the outdoors and camping.
Cooking Teachers
Kathryn Cords, Chef Educator
Chef Kathryn has years of experience working with children in several different capacities. As a young adult in the classroom, a camp counselor, and most recently, volunteering with her daughter. She has been a personal chef and is most comfortable in the kitchen creating meals for friends and family. She is a mom of a grown daughter and has three pups that keep her very busy.
Pooja Damani
Pooja is an avid home chef. Until recently, she has been a preschool teacher for many years. She collects cookbooks, loves different kinds of cuisine, and has an intense desire to try and make new dishes. Food is her way of making friends. She loves to make coconut cakes and salted chocolate chip cookies for dessert. In her free time, as a mom of two, (what free time??), she is often seen hanging out with her cats, cooking with her kids (mostly for), reading a good book with a cup of tea, or laughing with her husband, (who is also kept around by his desire for good food.)
Brittany Humphrey
My name is Brittany, I’m a mom of two and have a 1 year old dog, named Bruce. I love to cook, paint and draw in my free time.
Valeska Schultz - Lafayette
I’m currently a Spanish Language teacher and Academic Instructional Assistant for the Orinda School District, Orinda, CA. I have worked with students TK- High School for 20+ years, including my own children (ages 24 and 26 years old) and their friends. I have also worked for Cooking Round the World as a Chef Educator teaching and sharing the history, wonders and joy of cooking with youth!
Milton Higgins, chef educator
Milton Higgins, chef educator
Milton has worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry for 45 years. He loves teaching and cooking with children, especially their honesty and curiosity. The experience of teaching a child about food, it's cultural history, the importance of great nutrition, and the organizational skills is something they will value through adulthood.
Mark Waters
Mark Waters is a third generation native San Diegan, who loves cooking and teaching kids in an inclusive and diverse environment. Mark is compassionate and understanding and knows that ALL lives matter equally.
Hope Brennan
Hope Brennan is a veteran, she served two active years in the U.S. Army. In her junior year of high school, Hope was an exchange student. She spent her time in France. Learning the language and indulging on the pastries her host mom baked for her. She now spends her time cooking/baking and being a full-time cat mom to her kitten Arlo.
Alassandra Marquez
Alassandra is a Bay Area native with a background working as an advocate for at-risk youth in Santa Clara County, currently studying traditional Chinese medicine in San Diego. Aside from cooking and baking, her other hobbies include traveling, painting, bicycle riding, and spending time with her nieces.
Serenity Mcguire
Serenity is a San Diego local who loves cooking and is happy to be able to share that passion with the kids she works with. She is a phlebotomy student and child development major at Mira Costa College, plus an avid Padres fan.
Davina Bramell, Teacher
Chef Davina has been cooking most of her adult life. She has travelled extensively and enjoys trying new recipes and replicating them. She has a degree in early childhood education.
Tracy Long
She is from Beijing, China and loves cooking. She is kind, patient, responsible and a happy, educated successful mother. She loves travel and has been to forty more countries
Maria Lund
Maria grew up in Marin and currently resides in Oakland. She has a Business Degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and is back in school to study Early Childhood Education. She has a son in elementary school and currently volunteers there. Growing up, Maria spent a lot of time at her families' restaurants. You could say cooking is in her genes!
Anandita Sathyanarayan
Anandita recently graduated with her MBA from Johnson and Wales University, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in culinary arts and food service management. Her passion for food has led her through various different sectors of the food service industry, from being a line cook to making custom cakes. Now, she has decided to continue her passion through culinary education for both children and adults, hoping to expand peoples’ ideologies surrounding food; and to extend an open mind to concepts beyond just food as well
Nithya
hi my name is Nithya! I grew up in New Jersey and California and attended Columbia University in NYC, where I studied economics and data science. My passions are cooking, hiking, and spending time with my family, dog, and friends :)
Nicole Biyok
Nicole Biyok has been passionate about baking and cooking since she was 8 years old. She is currently in cosmetology school studying to be a hair dresser! Her passions are makeup, fashion and music.
Sylvia
Sylvia, who comes from Guangzhou, China, is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher with more than four years of experience working with children. She likes to make different kinds of desserts around the world.
Viviana Zambrano
Viviana Zambrano is an ambitious individual with a passion to help her students succeed and fostering a love of learning in them. When she’s not in the classroom, Viviana enjoys exploring her artistic side through painting and creating delicious meals in the kitchen. She also has a soft spot for bunnies, and enjoys raising them in her free time
Kaitlyn Cohen
"Hello my name is Kaitlyn. This is my second summer working at Cooking Around the World. I am a college student at CSUSM to be an elementary teacher. I love to bake during my free time"
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Melissa Esparza
"Melissa is a current college student at UC Davis working towards a degree in animal science. She has had a passion for cooking since she was 5 years old and wants other children to love cooking as much as she does. She's excited to be back home for the summer and can't wait to cook, bake, go to Padres games, and enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather!"
Kaimilani Gillman
Kaimilani is a native San Diegan who loves the beach, traveling and hula. She works as a nanny and has plans to teach middle school math!
Katherine Lim
Katherine is a home baker and chef who loves using food to explore creativity and working with kids. Outside of cooking, Katherine enjoys running, listening to lots of music, and being with friends and family. This fall, Katherine will attend Georgetown University to study nursing.
Caroline Lim
Caroline is a hobby cook and baker who enjoys working with children for their creativity and curiosity. In her free time Caroline enjoys running, playing soccer, playing piano, or snuggling with her cat. She will be attending UC Berkeley next year majoring in Conservation and Resource Studies.
Samantha Poulson
Liliane is a college student and loves to make meals for family dinners and any big holiday. She also loves to travel and hangout with her 3 year old basset hound.
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Cheryl Willis
Cheryl Willis is a certified Children’s Mindfulness and Yoga Instructor. She has been teaching mindfulness in elementary education for the past 9 years. Her passions include cooking, hiking in nature, traveling, and being with her family (a wonderful husband and three active teenage boys). She is excited about combining her passions for cooking and teaching children.
Valeria Tinoco
Valeria (they/them) has been working with kids for 6 years and loves to cook family recipes for loved ones. Valeria enjoys gardening, art, and community work. They are excited to see you in the kitchen.
Iliana Canchola
Hi my name is Iliana Canchola. I love cooking food with Mexicans roots.
Ms. Julie Parker
Meet Ms. Julie Parker she has been working with all children from babies-young adults for over 15. Currently she is a Special Education teacher with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education! She is excited to meet you and your kiddos this summer!
CONTACT
Yesmeen Alazzeh
Hi, my name is Yesmeen and I'm a Nursing student at the University of San Francisco. In my free time I enjoy baking and watching movies with my friends.
Roxy Hudson
Roxy Hudson is a soon to be second-year Nutrition major at Cal Poly SLO concentrating in Applied Nutrition. She is an intern for Cal Poly's CalFresh Outreach Program by day and a dedicated Trader Joe's snack connoisseur by night. Roxy has worked as a camp counselor and private babysitter all around San Diego and is so excited to continue her passion of helping kids learn and grow while simultaneously further developing her cooking skills. (If you see Roxy make sure to ask her what her favorite Disney movie is. Hint: it involves a very mischievous rat who, just like Roxy, loves cheese!)
Krupa Patel
Hello my name is Krupa Patel and I recently graduated from SJU in Philadelphia. I love to travel and try new local foods from different cultures. I like working with youth and instilling confidence to become young leaders. I also enjoy reading books, painting scenic pictures, and going on long hikes.
Cecelia Lowe
Hi, my name is Cecelia Lowe, or "Cece," I am a 21-year-old who loves to be out in the sun and play with kids. I have had multiple years working with kids from different age ranges on multiple sides of the spectrum. I love creating and exploring with the students and being inspired by their imaginations.
Kyra Ayon
Kyra is a current college student at CSUMB working towards a degree in Humanities and Communications, with the goal of becoming an English teacher. She has had a love for children her whole life, and a nanny for 6+ years. Her passions include cooking for family, and working with children, so Cooking around the World is a perfect job for her!
Andrea Pedroza
Hello! My name is Andrea and I am a Culinary Arts student at Mesa College. In my free time (when I’m not baking or cooking), I love photography and going to the beach. I have 8 years of experience with kids, since my mom owns a Montessori preschool I have been working with kids since I was 12! I look forward to work in a kitchen with your kiddos soon :)
Heather Sabol
Heather Sabol has been teaching Culinary Arts at the high school level for over 20 years. She enjoys working with her students and sharing the joy of creating food to share with others. She currently lives in the San Diego area with her husband and 2 daughters.
Megan Sabol
Megan Sabol graduated this year from MCS High School, and she is so excited to help at this year's camps! She has been a babysitter for the past 4 years, and will be pursuing a Child Life path in college this coming fall.
Tammy Phan
Tammy has moved to San Diego just last year, but she has been working/caring for kids of all ages for as long as she can remember. She is kind, patient, and full of fun! She believes that a good way to person's heart is their stomach and she is excited to share her passion and learn alongside the students.
Alyssa Sabol
Alyssa Sabol is currently attending Carroll College in Helena, Mt. She enjoys cooking in her free time with her family and doing arts and crafts.
Amethyst Evaro
This is Amethyst (Amy) she enjoys cooking, and exploring new restaurants. She loves exploring the Bay Area with her baby in tow.
Zuhra Alazzeh
This is Zuhra Alazzeh, she is currently a Nursing student at the University of San Francisco. She loves cooking, baking and is great with kids! Zuhra also loves anything Disney