Katherine Duffy-Darmetko '23
After more than 18 years as a nurse, Kathy Duffy-Darmetko decided to follow in the
family tradition of “cooking big” and started taking classes to begin another career
in the Culinary Arts field. Her mother, aunt, and brother had all cooked for years
while Kathy was growing up, preparing meals for fraternity houses at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute (RPI) in Troy. Kathy loved to cook also, and so she decided to put the wheels
in motion for a career change. Kathy graduated from the College in 2022 with her certificate
in Mobile Food Service and graduated in 2023 with her A.O.S. degree in Culinary Arts.
When she first enrolled at the College in Fall 2020, Kathy was an essential worker at the height of the pandemic, going to college full time and working full time as a nurse, taking care of alzheimer’s patients at St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham, part of St. Peter’s Health Partners. Most of the time she was taking classes during the day and then working either the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift or the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift.
During the summer of 2022, Kathy was a familiar face to hungry lunchtime crowds at the Empire State Plaza when she worked on the College’s food truck, making and serving pizzas, ramen, salads, and other delicious meals. Now, she’s exploring buying her own trailer to serve food in different locations around the areas. Her specialty? Soups and sandwiches, including a seafood lasagna soup that she made for her Modern Culinary Trends and Techniques class which was a big hit with her fellow students.
Kathy, who has been named to the Dean’s List, recently worked at the Kentucky Derby, along with 42 other students and faculty from the College, cooking for an international crowd in prestigious restaurants at the famous Churchill Downs. 2023 was the 41st year that SUNY Schenectady students worked at the Kentucky Derby as interns. They worked alongside industry professionals from Levy Restaurants of Compass Group. She also made delicious vegan stuffed shells and set up dessert stations for the Food for Thought & All That Jazz gala held at the College in April.
After graduation, Kathy will be catering small parties and gatherings, while still working part-time as a nurse. For her, everything she has learned at the College comes down to those who have shared their knowledge with her. “I love the professors. They are the best. They are always there when you need them and they are there to give you feedback whether good or bad. It all helps you grow as a person. The best advice I’ve gotten is, ‘Mise en Place.’ Everything has its place and take your time. Time management is so important.”