CAORC-ARENET Culinary FACULTY DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR
Culinary Routes: Migration, Sustainability, and Mexican Gastronomy
Mexico City, Puebla & Oaxaca
Seminar Overview
This seminar, administered by CAORC in collaboration with its member center in Mexico, the Americas Research Network (ARENET), is a two-week academic culinary program based in Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca. Through lectures, site visits, workshops, and experiential learning, the program explores Mexican gastronomy as a lens for understanding migration, sustainability, cultural heritage, and global exchange.
Mexican cuisine – recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – reflects centuries of cultural interaction, environmental adaptation, and social transformation. Participants will examine how Indigenous agricultural knowledge, historical trade networks, colonial encounters, and contemporary migration have shaped culinary traditions and food systems in Mexico and beyond. The seminar includes engagement with scholars, chefs, farmers, cultural practitioners, and community organizations working at the intersection of food, culture, sustainability, and identity.
Program activities include visits to markets, farms, culinary institutions, museums, libraries, and heritage sites, along with demonstrations, tastings, and discussions focused on food systems, sustainability, and cultural continuity. Participants will gain insight into historical and contemporary connections between Mexico and the United States, including the movement of people, ingredients, culinary practices, and environmental knowledge.
Seminar dates: January 4-16, 2027 (actual seminar dates, not inclusive of travel)
Program Objectives
The seminar aims to strengthen teaching, research, and practice by:
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Examining Mexican food systems as intersections of culture, ecology, and migration
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Exploring Indigenous culinary knowledge and traditional agricultural practices
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Investigating historical and contemporary migration through food traditions and ingredient exchange
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Enhancing interdisciplinary approaches to food studies, sustainability, and cultural heritage
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Supporting the development of curriculum, research projects, and institutional partnerships
Participants are encouraged to translate their experience into new courses, public programming, research collaborations, or personal practice that expand global perspectives for students.
Program Activities
The seminar combines academic engagement with cultural immersion through activities such as:
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Lectures by scholars, chefs, food historians, anthropologists, and sustainability experts
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Interactive workshops and panel discussions on migration, food systems, and cultural heritage
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Culinary demonstrations, tastings, and hands-on cooking experiences
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Visits to markets, farms, heritage kitchens, restaurants, and community food initiatives
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Museum, archive, and library visits focused on food traditions and cultural identity
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Foraging excursions and site visits highlighting traditional environmental knowledge
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Pre-program virtual orientations and post-program academic mentoring
Participants will receive curated teaching materials, primary sources, and case studies to support post-program curriculum development and/or practical application.
Participant Eligibility
The program is open to full-time or part-time faculty and administrators at accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Culinary educators and faculty from all disciplines are encouraged to apply, particularly those interested in incorporating global perspectives, cultural heritage, food studies, migration studies, environmental humanities, or interdisciplinary international content into their teaching or institutional programming. Non-teaching professionals are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Outcomes and Impact
As a core outcome of the Overseas Faculty Development Seminar program, participants are asked to develop and implement a project at their home institution following completion of the seminar. Projects may include curriculum development, new or revised courses, public lectures, research collaborations, educational outreach, events, or other initiatives that expand global understanding among students and campus communities.
Projects should typically be implemented within one year of participation. Participants will be asked to submit documentation, curricular materials, or a brief report describing how their experience informed teaching, research, or institutional internationalization efforts.
Application Process
Applications are submitted through CAORC’s online application portal. Applicants may save drafts and return to their application prior to submission.
Detailed application deadlines and notification dates will be announced when the application cycle opens.
For questions about the program, applicants may contact CAORC fellowship staff at fellowships@caorc.org.
Program Support, Logistics & Fees
The program fee is $4,500 USD per participant. Faculty teaching at U.S. community and technical colleges may be eligible for up to $500 in financial support. Additional discounts are available for shared accommodations; please inquire for details. CAORC and ARENET can provide award letters or other documentation to support participants seeking institutional funding.
The program fee includes comprehensive logistical and academic support, including:
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All in-country transportation and program logistics
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Accommodations in culturally significant locations
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Organized meals and culinary experiences
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Entrance fees, guided visits, and workshop materials
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Academic lectures, presentations, and guided tours
The program fee does not include:
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International airfare between participants’ home locations and Mexico City
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Passport or visa fees (U.S. citizens do not require a visa for tourist visits to Mexico of up to 180 days)
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Selected meals not included in the program
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Personal expenses such as laundry, medications, or incidental costs
Meet the ARENET Seminar Team
Greta de León, Executive Director of ARENET