Dallas College

Student Experience: Loren Wesley

“I started cooking at the age of 12 and ever since have known I wanted to be a chef. I completed an internship at the Hyatt Regency Dallas while in high school, received an associate degree in Culinary Arts from El Centro and then earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel restaurant management from the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. I hope to become a food and beverage director for a major hotel chain and one day own my own restaurant.”

  After graduating from Duncanville High School in 2005, Loren earned an associate degree in Culinary Arts from El Centro in the spring of 2008. Her first professional cooking job was at Hilton Garden Inn as a breakfast and banquet cook. After graduating from El Centro, she served as pastry chef at Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events in Dallas. Loren is currently the assistant banquet manager at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston.


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Isaac Juarez

Isaac Juarez

Ascender student
“Ascender has helped me come out of my shell, be more active on campus, and step outside my comfort zone. It has also allowed me to build meaningful connections and find inspiration. Through this journey, I have come to see my friends as my family.”
Business
Icela Robles

Icela Robles

Realtor Sandyland Estates Home Builders
“In the classes, I learned basically everything I needed to know to work in the real estate business: ethics, laws, guidelines, about the Texas Real Estate Commission — really, all that the business entails — through the Real Estate program.”
Real Estate
Gina Becerra

Gina Becerra

Program Services Assistant Workforce Training
“I was nervous when I first started, but I soon felt comfortable and more confident in myself thanks to the instructors and staff in the BOSS program. They inspired me to try harder and to believe in myself. I feel prepared and ready for what comes my way, and I also know that there are people out there who truly care about me and others like me who want to get ahead in life.”
Business
Gilberto Tellez

Gilberto Tellez

Manager Fernando’s Mexican Cuisine
“The best and most important thing is the knowledge I learned in Richland’s program. I’ve learned things that I know I will use someday in my career. I’ve learned a lot of things that I’ll be able to put into practice.”
International Business and Trade
Loren Wesley
Loren Wesley
Assistant Event Services Manager, Hyatt Regency Houston
Culinary and Pastry Arts
School of Business, Hospitality and Global Trade
Updated September 4, 2026