For over 25 years, Chef Mark Schoenweiss has been more than just a name in the kitchen of the IEP and TI House. To the students, faculty, and staff, he is a comforting presence, a master of his craft, and a cherished part of campus life at the IEP. His dynamic presence in a lively, music-filled kitchen and dining experience has left a lasting impact on the community he’s served for over two decades.
Chef Mark’s story at the IEP began in 1999, when he was hired as the head chef for the newly occupied IEP House. With a passion for fresh ingredients and an inventive approach to traditional international dishes, Chef Mark quickly made a name for himself. Knowing that the students will encounter different foods abroad, and that their career goals will bring them into contact with multicultural cuisines and dining experiences, he prepared meals that many students have not encountered before. Thus, when the students are abroad or in a corporate board room, entrées such as quiche, Bratwurst, red cabbage, Sauerbraten, canard á l’orange, poached salmon and West African peanut soup will not take them fully by surprise.
Dr. Tobias Lührig was one of the first URI-TU Braunschweig dual master’s students from Germany to come to the US. Dr. Lührig is now a member of the IEP advisory council and CEO of Bischof + Klein back in Lengerich, Germany, but he still looks back fondly on his time at the IEP Living and Learning Community and shared the following about his impressions of Mark: “I had the culinary pleasure of experiencing Chef Mark Schoenweiss’s artistry during his inaugural year with IEP, right after the first house opened. Beyond his exceptional dishes, I was equally impressed by his unwavering positivity, inspiring dedication to his craft, and his genuine passion for each and every student.”
In 2007, when the TI house opened, Chef Mark doubled his meal capacity, serving all 75 residents and staff 3 meals a day. He also developed a robust summer menu to accommodate the many summer groups that are housed at the IEP.
Known for his approachable and witty demeanor, Chef Mark built lasting relationships with the staff and students. Whether it was creating personalized meals for students with dietary restrictions or lending an ear to a student in need of encouragement, he made sure everyone felt like they mattered.
When asked about his 25-year experience at the IEP, Chef Mark said “It has been a great pleasure to meet the cohorts of students who have moved through the program and the diverse paths taken as they progressed through life.”
In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, collecting and listening to a wide variety of music, and visiting his childhood home in New Hampshire.
Echoing the rich musical atmosphere that he has served up on the side of
every dish at the IEP from the past quarter century, Chef Mark also shared with readers the following lyrics from musician Frank Zappa:
“Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is the best.”
The International Engineering Program would like to express its utmost appreciation of Chef Mark for his 25 years of dedication, hard work, and care that he has shown the program’s many staff and students over the years, going above and beyond to make the IEP LLC into the warm and welcoming environment that continues to be today.