George Mason University is the largest university in Virginia, serving 42,000 students through four dining halls and 27 retail locations.

In our latest Thought Leaders in Foodservice conversation, Eavan Jennings talked with Jonathan Elwell, CEC, Director of Dining Services at George Mason, about how student expectations have shifted. Today’s students want dining halls that feel like the real world, whether that’s authentic Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, or a great grilled burger, while also craving the comfort and connection of home.

Jonathan’s takeaway on where dining is headed: the demand for authentic, international flavors keeps growing, and students expect campus dining to deliver on that in a real way.