Valencia Purry of Culinary Arts earns MBA

A core part of the College’s Culinary Arts + Hospitality Management scene for nearly 19 years, HFC Lab Associate II Valencia Purry recently earned her MBA in sport and entertainment management from the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University.
“Earning my MBA was once just a dream,” said Purry. “But this was the right time to further my education and my career. Wayne State was the best choice for me. This is a new program and we at HFC have a transfer agreement with Wayne State. They accepted all my credits. This helped by valuing the education I received at HFC and building a bridge to graduate-level business study.”
To qualify for the transfer agreement with Wayne State, students must complete the 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts at HFC with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and earn a grade of “C” or higher in key coursework. This ensures a seamless transition and allows students to build on their knowledge without redundancy or delay. The transfer agreement enables direct admission into the MBA program without the need for GRE or GMAT scores. It represents a powerful model for academic progression, especially for students in applied fields like culinary arts who aspire to executive and entrepreneurial leadership roles.
“This type of regional collaboration to benefit the adult learner is a critical contribution to building and retaining the high-skill, high-value talent pool in Metro Detroit,” said HFC Culinary Arts Department Chair Eric Gackenbach. “Our Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts is not just about creativity and technical skills, it’s a comprehensive program that blends culinary expertise with core business principles like accounting, finance, marketing, and business management. This solid business foundation aligns perfectly with the MBA curriculum at Wayne State, making our graduates well-prepared to take the next step toward leadership roles in hospitality and business.”
Purry earned 3 degrees and 3 certifications from HFC
A lifelong Detroiter and alumna of Cass Technical High School, Purry and her three sisters – ReShay, Fara, and ReShawn – all graduated from HFC. Purry earned six degrees and credentials from HFC. They include:
- An associate degree in hospitality/hotel-restaurant management
- An associate degree in culinary arts
- A bachelor’s degree in culinary arts
- A certificate in culinary skills
- A certificate in culinary arts
- A certificate in hospitality professional management
She also earned her bachelor’s degree in hospitality business from Siena Heights University. Purry – who also works at the front of the house at Fifty-One O One, HFC’s student-run restaurant – was in the inaugural graduating class of four who earned their bachelor’s degree from the College in 2017.
“HFC prepared me well for my MBA,” she explained. “Learning from my students also prepared me – their work-life balance, their study habits. Working also at The Henry hotel in Dearborn as the front desk supervisor, where I’ve been around event planning within my department, came in handy when I had to do projects pertaining to event planning, because I had that firsthand experience.”
Her father inspired her to go into hospitality. He worked for the Chrome Craft Corporation in Highland Park and traveled extensively. He would bring home pads of paper and pens from the many hotels he stayed at for Purry when she was young.
“Giving me notepads from different hotels may seem like nothing, but it was important to me,” she fondly recalled. “It made a lasting impression on me.”
Purry can picture herself overseeing special events for Detroit’s major sports teams, such as the Tigers, Pistons, Lions, and Red Wings. She can also picture herself spearheading HFC’s Culinary Arts + Hospitality Management program down the road. She would like to build on the leadership of this program, following in the footsteps of Eric Gackenbach, (retired HFC culinary arts instructor) Dennis Konarski, Joe Cosenza, and Jeff Click – all of whom were Purry’s instructors when she was a student.
“Valencia is unique,” said Click. “She’s very focused and calm. She is able to handle working full-time and excelling at her education and family. She is also a model employee, serving as mentor to students. We are so fortunate to have her at the College. People like Valencia are a rarity in today's world. Her dedication is outstanding.”