Bridging the gap: New Sodexo position aims for communication

2010 Luther graduate Alli Brenny returned to campus Aug. 11 as the Marketing Manager for Sodexo and Dining Services. After struggles with student communication last year, Sodexo decided to hire someone to specifically work with and market to students.

After graduation in May, Brenny returned to her home of Bloomington, Minn. and started hunting for a job. When she saw the opportunity for a communications position at her former college, she jumped at the idea and immediately applied. All applicants were first screened by a recruiter to see if they met certain criteria. Those who passed went through another round of interviews. Three applicants, including Brenny, were then selected to go through a final interview. 

“We were looking for someone who had education and background in the field,” General Manager of Dining Services, Wayne Tudor said. “We also wanted someone who was very personable and familiar with the college setting.”

According to Tudor, Brenny scored the highest in all of her interviews.

 “It was definitely an advantage having someone who knew Luther College in particular,” Tudor said. “It was like having a head start. She didn’t have to learn about the college and the position all together. Alli does still know a lot of people here, she knows the right places to call when we have information to share, she knows who to talk to about what is going on on campus. She knows the heartbeat of the campus.”

Brenny hopes that because she is a recent graduate students will feel more comfortable talking to her.

“It helps that I know people and was involved on campus. I have connections that were built before this job started,” Brenny said.  “I hope that students will feel like I am someone that is working for their best interests because I was just a student myself.”

Students appreciate Brenny’s Luther experience.

“She was a student and she understands how the cafeteria works. That makes her job more personal,“ said Austen Perry (‘14). “She went here recently enough that she remembers how it was. I think that she would be more understanding if I come to her with problems, because she could remember what she disliked about certain things.”

Because Brenny was a past student, she has a different perspective to offer. 

“She has more of a leveled view,” Food Council Co-Chair Abhra Biswas (‘13) said. “She has been here and was a student that dined here. That has a certain authenticity.” 

As part of her job, Brenny will work with students and student groups such as the Student Senate and Food Council, where she will sit in on meetings. Throughout the year, Brenny will go through a marketing program and use promotional materials to get information to students. This year, she will even have a student working with her as a work study position. Brenny views this as an opportunity to have a student opinion involved in everything she does. 

“I am here to facilitate conversations between students and dining services,” Brenny said. “We want the student opinion to be heard and considered.”

Brenny also makes menus for different lines and talks with chefs and staff about any changes and how to describe what is being offered. If needed, she works with students in the cafeteria and helps serve. At least once a week, Brenny checks comment cards posted in different dining areas around campus. 

“We want students to know that we are actually reading their comments and trying to do something about them,” Brenny said. 

The main purpose of her job is to keep people informed about what dining services is doing with sustainability, local products and specials that are running in different locations, and sending out press releases. 

“She will help get out what is going on, what Food Council is doing and what Dining Services is doing,” Food Council Co-Chair Mitch Demers said. “It will be a good connection.”

Brenny also deals with any issues that arise.

“I am an advocate for students. I want students to be able to come to me with a concern so that we can resolve any issues.”

Sodexo is pleased to have this new addition as a step in increasing communication between Dining Services, students, faculty and staff.

“We don’t always have time to communicate things properly, and that is her main job,” Tudor said. “It allows for a better means of communication of what is going on and what is needed.”