International Food Fest Brings Flavor of Diversity to Anderson

Last Thursday afternoon, the rain held off long enough for the International Food Festival to go off without a hitch. About 350 students, staff and faculty attended and enjoyed food from around the world, as well as the usual Anderson Afternoon beverages, wine from the Anderson Wine Club and deserts from Out@Anderson.

Held in Alumni Plaza, 14 countries were represented at the annual event. Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, India, Philippines, Mexico, Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Jamaica, Taiwan and Armenia presented traditional food options from Indian samosas to Filipino lumpia to Chinese dim sum and Mexican cactus salad. Later in the evening, karaoke was the order of the day. “When students were done with the food and wine, they sang their hearts out,” says Ayushman Jain, president of the International Business Association.

According to Jain, the event celebrates diversity at UCLA Anderson and further promotes the mission of the IBA. “Our mission is promoting an international business agenda at UCLA Anderson, engaging the school community in global business trends, creating interest in potential career channels around the globe and facilitating cultural exchange,” Jain says. The IBA works with the CIBER, the Parker Career Management Center and Center for Global Management, as well as the international alumni network and others to create opportunities for international networking and career growth.

The IFF is one of the biggest on-campus cultural events, Jain says. “Anderson's Student Affairs office does an amazing job every year of supporting the IBA's efforts in making this possible. It really shows Anderson's commitment to being one of the most collaborative and well-rounded business schools.”