Keith Rada Jr.

Keith Rada Jr. serves as Associate Dean for Education at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), where he joined the faculty in 2018 and teaches "Spirits, Fermented, and Non-Alcoholic Beverages." With decades of leadership experience across premier hospitality venues in New York City and San Francisco, he brings extensive industry expertise to academic administration.

His educational foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Columbia University and Certified Sommelier credentials through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. This combination of academic training and professional certification underpins his specialized knowledge in beverage systems and service management.

Rada's career spans both U.S. coasts: as captain at Altamarea Group (managing service teams at Marea, Ai Fiori, and Osteria Morini in NYC), and as general manager at Waterbar in San Francisco where he directed six managers and 60+ staff, achieving 10-12% annual revenue growth through operational innovations and performance management systems. His research interests focus on hospitality leadership, beverage program development, and experiential culinary education.

As Associate Dean, he oversees educational strategy while maintaining direct teaching responsibilities in beverage specialization. His industry background informs curriculum development in the Food Business and Wine Management programs, emphasizing practical applications in restaurant systems and beverage innovation.