Visit to Farm Leolinda in Bahia, Brazil
Learn about my chocolate journey by listening to this WKND chocolate podcast with Lauren Heineck.

Educational Philosophy: Changing your mind about what chocolate means

Education:
B.S. in Biology, Loyola University Chicago
B.A. in English, Loyola University Chicago
Ph.D. in Biology, University of Notre Dame

Career:
Professor, Southwestern University (current)
Current Research: Aquatic ecology (with molecular bent)

Chocolate Experience:
Cocoa Masterclass, Brazil, May 2025
Podcast Feature, KahKow Culture, Fine Chocolate Glossary 
Facilitator, FCIA Chocolate Glossary Committee
Facilitator, Chocolate Covered Teaching: An Innovative Approach to Using Commodity-Based Goods to Foster Cross-Disciplinary Critical Thinking Skills in Undergraduates, Associated Colleges of the South
Professor, Curriculum Development:
      First Year Seminar: Does Chocolate Have a Dark Side
      BIO50-194: The Science of Chocolate
      London Covered Chocolate London (Fall 2022)
Podcast Feature, Conversations in Cocoa, WKND Chocolate Podcast by Lauren Heineck
Special Sales Associate, Indi Chocolate, Goldman Sachs Market Day, December 2021
Participant and Topic Leader, Chocolate Industry for Social Justice working group​
Professional Chocolate Taster, Level 1 & 2 Certification, IICCT
Invited participant, The Chocolate Conservatory, FCCI and Harvard University
Judge, Good Food Awards, Chocolate 2017
Judge, International Chocolate Awards, 2019 Americas Competition
Judge, International Chocolate Awards, 2019 World Finals
Invited Guest, Grand Jury, International Chocolate Awards, Americas 2021 Competition
Speaker/Tasting Workshop, Art.Science.Gallery.com

Invited Lectures (community, university and various organizations)
Click above or below for examples
Published article about teaching evolution with chocolate

Previous Glossary Entries & Blog Posts:
Presentations at Chocolate Festivals
2025, 2024, 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, Invited Speaker, Northwest Chocolate Festival
2024, 2023, 2018, 2017 & 2016 Invited Speaker, Dallas Chocolate Festival
2022, WOW, Porto Portugal
2019, Invited Speaker, Brighton Chocolate Festival, UK
    Example: Worth Every Pound - Why invest in Fine Chocolate
2018, Invited Speaker, New England Chocolate Festival

Associated Chocolate Groups:
Cocoa Masterclass Alumni
Women of Cacao, Annual Member
FCIA: Fine Chocolate Industry Association member
ICCR advocate (previously Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute).
AoC: Academy of Chocolate Member
IICCT Level II Certified; Level III* Participant
​
Example Presentations (click here for more):
How to Have A Real Relationship with Chocolate
Chocolate Chemistry
Chocolate as a model for liberal arts education
Science of chocolate
Genetics 101 for chocolate enthusiasts
Future of genetic engineering in the chocolate industry

Chocolate Media Features:
Sweet Side of Science (7/07/23; Southwestern University)
University students learn about chocolate (7/16/17, Williamson Co. Sun)
A college course coated in chocolate (12/30/07, Houston Chronicle)

Examples of Chocolate Factories/Museums Visited:
​Askinosie Chocolate
Bare Bones Chocolate
Blommer Chocolate
Cacao Prieto
Creo Chocolate
Dandelion Chocolate
Dormouse Chocolate 
Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Hazel Mountain Chocolate
indi chocolate
Jacques Torres Chocostory
London Chocolate
Manoa Chocolate
​Madre Chocolate
​Middlebury Chocolate
Omnom Chocolate
Palette de Bine
SRSLY Chocolate
Table Chocolate
Taza Chocolate
​TCHO Chocolate
Theo Chocolate
​Videri Chocolate
Woodblock Chocolate

"Go To" Fine Chocolate Sources:
Bar And Cocoa (on-line)
Cocoa Runners (on-line)
The Cocoa Store, NYC, NY (store & on-line)
Central Market, Austin, TX
Whole Foods, Austin, TX
​Chocotastery (on-line)
Make Mine Fine, Fine Chocolate Industry Association (on-line)
Chocolopolis, Seattle, Washington (limited)
The Meadow, NYC, NY
The Chocolate House, Washington DC (in person or on-line)
Formaggio Kitchen, Cambridge, MA
Caputo's, Salt Lake City, UT (store & online)
Direct from individual makers (in person or on-line)​ 

*Did not receive Level III certification, but also do not endorse the program. 
Available for specific discussion.