Food service is a core part of any college. They are responsible for making sure hundreds of students and faculty are properly fed for the challenges of higher education. From student workers to full time faculty, it is an all hands on deck experience to give out the best food for their customers.
Dining services at Lakeland make up a few sections for students to get food. The classic hot line, where students can line up to get breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Grill serves up burgers, chicken and other classic American items for students to order. Pizza and subs are offered during lunch for students who want some variety in their lunch. Finally, The Pub allows for students over the drinking age to get a beverage without risking any driving under the influence.
While there is a whole team working in dining, there is one man who watches over it all. Mark Wagner is the head of Dining Services at Lakeland University. He’s responsible for making the decisions on what food is served and how it is served on campus. However, when going to college, he went for a different career path.
Wagner initially wanted to become a sports reporter during his college years. However, there was another calling that spoke to him. After working at an Italian restaurant in Oshkosh, Wis., the owner recommended he swapped to hospitality. Wagner then worked at the American Club in Kohler, Wis., where he worked as head chef.
Wagner then came to Lakeland University in 2001, acting as the head of Dining Services.
One of the main factors to how dining makes their decisions is through the students. “Our focus, including me as well, people 18-23 have been eating in different patterns,” Wagner said. “15 years ago, people came up here and we’re rubbing elbows and giggling. Nowadays, students grab their food and go to their dorm.”
Dining has changed the most since the turn of the decade. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were forced to get their food and then leave. This grab-and-go mindset is something that has still not gone away even though the pandemic has ended.
The dining services at Lakeland are ever changing. Wagner was able to share a couple of upcoming features that dining services plan to roll out in the future. One of the changes to try and get people out of the food line faster. Wagner is hoping for an addition to the TouchNet360 app that allows for mobile ordering to roll out in the Fall 2026 semester.
Another change is extending and expanding the drinks in the Muskie’s Mart. Wagner compared the process to how a convenience store like Kwik Trip would stock their drinks. Someone in the back would push drinks forward to make sure that students can have quick and consistent access.
When asked about anyone Wagner wants to shoutout, he wanted to shoutout a whole team instead. Wagner would shoutout the cooks and the other various workers in the kitchen as well as Joe Johnson. Wagner said, “I know a lot of universities, and I have a hard time keeping my workers. We’ve been able to keep a good crew in our kitchen, and it’s a blessing to have such a good culinary crew. It’s the best around, it really is.”
Lakeland students have a lot to look forward to for the future of dining. Wagner and his team work tirelessly to make sure that the services available for the students are the best it can be.
Dining and Cooking