Meet Chef Ro
Chef Roshara "Chef Ro" Sanders is an award-winning chef, educator, U.S. Army combat veteran, and Food Network Chopped Champion whose career has been shaped by resilience, service, and a passion for bringing people together through food.
After serving combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Chef Ro pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a chef at the Culinary Institute of America. Today, she has come full circle as an Assistant Professor of Culinary Arts at the CIA, where she became the institution's first Black female culinary instructor. Through her teaching, she empowers the next generation of chefs to embrace their heritage, lead with purpose, and recognize food as a powerful form of storytelling.
Named one of Food & Wine magazine's 2024 Game Changers, Chef Ro also serves as Chef Ambassador at Red Rooster Harlem under acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson. Throughout her career, she has remained a passionate advocate for diversity, mentorship, and creating opportunities for others through hospitality.
For her Gather55 dinner, Chef Ro presents A Pan-American Diaspora Table: a menu inspired by the movement of cultures throughout North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Each course celebrates migration, memory, resilience, and the traditions that connect us, creating an evening where every dish tells a story.
