Dean Crespo brings comradery and paella to AHS year-end celebration

AHS dean Carlos Crespo hosted nearly 100 students, faculty and staff in the AHSB yard to celebrate the culminating school year over a giant pan of paella, his signature dish.

Crespo’s year-end paella party is an event he held for the first time 15 years ago as professor and vice provost at Portland State University. His annual gathering of university colleagues and their family members became a tradition and grew in size each year.

On May 3, Crespo brought his one-meter-wide paella pan and his gift for community-building to UIC for the first installment of what he hopes to be a yearly celebration for AHS.

The cookout was planned to recognize the achievements of AHS, gathering students, faculty and staff for a moment of relaxation after a year of hard work. His goal was to deliver a delicious meal as a thank you to the AHS community — but also to encourage some comradery and easy enjoyment.

“Most people interact with each other during working hours in a really sterile environment,” said Crespo, “but when you come together with friends and family in a nonjudgmental setting, you get to know people and have fun — and that’s important.”

Dean Crespo ran the paella station, assisted by Renea Lyles ’16 MS NUT, KN clinical instructor and manager of the award-winning UIC Nutrition Teaching Garden, which provided vegetables for the event.

“I was honored to serve as Dean Crespo’s sous chef,” Lyles said. “Dean Crespo’s commitment to building a positive AHS community, which directly contributes to the success of both students and faculty, was truly uplifting.”