Helmut Mayer

Helmut Mayer was the last Director of Dining Services before Knox farmed the service out to a for-profit corporation in the fall of 2015. He was hired in early 2008 to replace Steve Farris. He has brought dining services into the modern age by not only introducing an big swath of ethnic foods, from Indian to Chinese, Korean, Thai and others, but also by vastly broadening the vegan, vegetarian options available every day, and by getting various local producers to supply Knox College with anything from locally grown produce to great bread baked in town. He also introduced extensive labeling of all prepared and non-prepared foods to assure that anyone with food allergies could avoid and find foods fitting their needs. Mayer was also instrumental in supporting and advocate for what is now "The Knox Farm", where students grow an array of seasonal produce benefiting dining services.

It has been discovered through Caf comment cards that Helmut is descended from Hapsburg Royalty, although his ancestors did not commission the works of Beethoven. Also: Helmut is amazing. He cooks Indian food. And he's Austrian. And he condones erotic dancing during meal times. 'Nough said.

He makes 650 cookies per day, and close to 50,000 per term.

If you ever get the chance to work with him, DO IT. He's a good-natured dude, and loves to give away leftovers. He'll also give you the recipe to make whatever it was you ate in the caf last night if you send him an email.