Sofia Kulasooriya
Sofia Kulasooriya is a Junior in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration specializing in Food and Beverage Management. From Woodside, California, Sofia began her hospitality career at 16 as a pastry cook at a Michelin-starred restaurant. From there, her passion for the culinary arts and fine dining blossomed, as she discovered her greatest joy comes from serving others delicious and beautifully crafted menus.
Sofia began her freshman year in the HEC 98 Culinary Team managing the Opening Cocktail event. During HEC 99, she was the Executive Sous Chef executing the Plated Dinner. Sofia is thrilled and honored to be part of HEC's 100th annual celebration, continuing her culinary journey as the conference's Executive Chef.
Outside of HEC, Sofia works as a banquet cook at the Statler Hotel, where she hones her skills in large-scale cooking. Twice a year, she participates in "Dean's Dinners," one of her favorite activities at Cornell. These dinners allow Sofia to explore creative menu development as she prepares a multi-course fine dining experience for sixteen guests, including the Dean and an industry leader invited to the Hotel School. Sofia is always seeking opportunities to explore the vast world of culinary arts. She has participated in a culinary bootcamp at the renowned Culinary Institute of America, worked as a server at the three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park, and most recently spent the summer catering her own menus as an event chef in the Bay Area.