Johnson & Wales University

Johnson & Wales University, often called JWU, is a private university in Providence, Rhode Island in the United States. It began as a business school in 1914, started by two women named Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales. By fall 2020, about 7,357 students were studying at its campuses. JWU is known as a good school, approved by the New England Commission of Higher Education. This group checks that schools teach well and meet good standards.

History

1914–1947

Johnson & Wales Business School began in September 1914 in Providence, Rhode Island. It was started by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales, who met while studying in Pennsylvania. They were teachers at a business school in Providence and decided to open their own. The school started with just one student and one typewriter on Hope Street. It later moved to bigger places, including downtown, to help veterans after World War I. Students learned subjects like bookkeeping, typing, shorthand, English, and math. Both boys and girls could attend.

1947–1963

In June 1947, Johnson and Wales sold the school to Edward Triangelo and Morris Gaebe because of their age and health. At that time, about 100 students attended. Triangelo and Gaebe helped the school grow fast. The school got national approval in 1954 and became a junior college in 1960.

1963–present

The school became a nonprofit organization in 1963. Edward P. Triangolo was the first president from 1963 to 1969. In the 1960s and 1970s, the school expanded in downtown Providence, buying old hotel and store buildings. Morris Gaebe was president from 1969 to 1989 and later became chancellor. He started a program for hospitality in 1972, which became very popular. The school changed its name to Johnson & Wales University in 1988, often called JWU. The school closed its campuses in Denver and North Miami after the 2020–21 school year.

Campuses

Providence

The Providence campus offers programs in business, hospitality, and technology. It opened in 1914. There is also a smaller campus in Cranston, Rhode Island for cooking and advanced studies that opened in 1985. Together, these campuses cover 176 acres with many places to live, eat, and relax.

Charlotte

The Charlotte campus began in 2002 and opened in 2004. It is located in Uptown Charlotte and has three places to live, two places to eat, and a center for sports and fitness. In 2024, Johnson & Wales planned to make changes to the campus, including closing one building and changing a hotel into more student housing.

Former locations

• North Miami, Florida (1992–2021)
• Denver, Colorado (2000–2021)
• Charleston, South Carolina (1984–2006)
• Norfolk, Virginia (1986–2006)

Academics

Johnson & Wales University has six main areas of study: Business, Food Innovation and Technology, Hospitality, Health & Wellness, Engineering & Design, and Arts & Sciences.

The Providence campus includes the Business and Hospitality colleges, as well as Arts & Sciences and Engineering & Design. It also has a Graduate School, a Culinary Arts College, and a School of Education. The university is well known for its culinary arts program, but it started with business and hospitality studies. Students can also choose from many online degree programs.

Greek life

Providence campuses

The Providence Downcity and Harborside campuses have 15 fraternities and sororities, plus two social groups. These groups are led by four main organizations: the InterFraternity Council (IFC), the Panhellenic Council (PHC), the United Cultural Council (UCC), and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). The university helps manage these groups. There are also some groups not officially recognized that still welcome new members.

Athletics

All campuses of Johnson & Wales University have teams called the Wildcats. Their mascot is Willie T. Wildcat, also known as Wildcat Willie. The costume was redesigned in 2013. Willie appears at games and special events, played by different students.

The Providence campuses compete in NCAA Division III, mainly in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. They have many sports for men and women, including basketball, soccer, and ice hockey. The North Miami campus closed in 2021. The Charlotte campus joined NCAA Division III in 2025 and won a national championship in basketball in 2018. The Denver campus also closed in 2021. The Charleston and Norfolk campuses competed in the NAIA as independent schools in the past.

Awards

Johnson & Wales University is in the Culinary Hall of Fame for its big help in teaching people about cooking.

Notable alumni

Johnson & Wales University has many successful graduates in different fields. Some well-known names include chefs like Michelle Bernstein, Sara Bradley, and Graham Elliot Bowles. Others have become famous in television, such as Rahman "Rock" Harper and Emeril Lagasse. The university also counts politicians among its alumni, like Jeanine Calkin from the Rhode Island Senate.