Meet Michigan State University Alumni
Christine Polk
By Michelle Thomas, Senior Manager, Diversity Recruitment

Tell us about your background. I was born and raised in Long Beach, California, but after high school, I decided to leave sunny California and move across the country to attend Michigan State University, where I majored in Hospitality Business. I have always had a passion for the hospitality industry, and Michigan State is ranked in the top 5 for hospitality programs. Attending this school was an obvious choice to get into the industry and to get a leg up on the competition.

Additionally, student leadership opportunities at Michigan State are second to none. It was here that I was first introduced to The National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH), the premier professional organization for hospitality students. During my senior year, I served as chapter president and eventually moved on to a leadership position on the national board.

Where did your career start and where has it taken you? My first job out of college was as an Assistant Manager at the Macaroni Grill. I completed an internship at this restaurant while in college and was offered a position with them when I graduated. I stayed with the company for a year. Although the experience was very positive, I realized that I wanted to be with a company where there were more food and beverage options outside of a restaurant setting. I wanted an opportunity to explore different facets of food and beverage management. When I left the Macaroni Grill, I joined Sodexo 's Campus Services Division at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, California. The management experience that I gained was invaluable. I worked as a campus Retail Manager and was responsible for three units, including a full-service restaurant, a coffee shop and a food court cafeteria. I oversaw between 45 and 50 employees. Most recently, I transferred to the School Services Division and was promoted to a Food Service Manager 2 in the Saddleback Valley School District in Mission Viejo, CA.

Why did you choose to work for Sodexo ? Sodexo was a company that was referenced in college as an industry leader. With a little research, I learned that career options and opportunities at Sodexo are unlimited. It is like a one-stop shop. You can work in different settings from health care to schools to corporations. There are so many different options that when you want to take your career in a different direction, you do not have to leave the company. Sodexo 's commitment to diversity also played a huge part in my decision to work here. A lot of companies say they believe in a diverse environment, but Sodexo walks the talk. We have a Chief Diversity Officer and five different Network Groups that work to reinforce their commitment. We are continually learning about diversity and inclusion with the numerous classes the company makes available to all of its employees.

What advice do you have for college students looking to begin their career? My biggest piece of advice to college students is to know what you are looking for in a career and a company and, at the same time, remember to be open to other avenues. When I first started school, I thought that I wanted a career in hotels and during school I worked at the Michigan State campus hotel. However, my summer internships were all food and beverage based and when I started looking for jobs as a senior, the opportunities that presented themselves were more food and beverage-related. That is when I realized that in the hospitality industry, there are opportunities to merge career paths.

I would also tell college students to not expect that their career will be a bed of roses all the time. Some days will be rougher than others, but if they go into it knowing that they have to take the bitter with the sweet, it all balances out.