# @ucberkeleyofficial on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DVcSwqlgdsv
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/64635224-ucberkeleyofficial-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/5754cd1189.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-03-04T00:16:38.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UC Berkeley (@ucberkeleyofficial) — https://gondola.cc/ucberkeleyofficial

## Caption

Behind the chaos of UC Berkeley’s Foothill Dining Commons’ dinner rush is Marshawn Howard, tying his apron and making sure everything and everyone is in place. As sous chef, he takes his job seriously. “These are somebody’s kids, and if something’s not right, we won’t serve it,” he says. 

Born and raised in Richmond, California, Howard’s passion in the kitchen began with his grandmother. “I was always in the kitchen with her, watching and learning,” he says. 

After 14 years in the trucking industry and as an avid birdwatcher, Howard decided to pursue his passion for cooking. In 2016, he earned his culinary certificate at Oakland’s Laney College, and then enrolled in the Kitchen of Champions, a workforce development program run by St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County. He went on to work as a personal chef for celebrity clients like Snoop Dogg and Mistah F.A.B. “I’ve done a couple of things in my lifetime,” he laughs, “but right now I’m just focused on my job here at Berkeley.”

Encouraged by a friend to apply, Howard began working at Foothill six years ago. In the following years, he worked at a few other campus dining halls before coming back to Foothill to manage the lunch and dinner kitchen operations nine months ago. “It feels like home,” he says. 

The best part of his job? “The people,” he answers, smiling. “Everybody’s here for you, even through the mad times. I can’t please everybody in the world, but I want those working around me to be uplifted and happy.”

Keep up with Chef Howard on TikTok and Instagram: cookingwithchefhoward

#UCBerkeley #ImABerkeleyan

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## Tags

ucberkeley, imaberkeleyan

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