Back to the Hill: Fall Fellow Jason Hammel ’90 on Food, Fellowship, and Meaningful Hospitality

At Assembly last Friday, October 25, Jason Hammel ’90 returned to the Hill as the 2024 Fall Fellow to speak about his journey from Hopkins to becoming the Executive Chef and Owner of the award-winning Chicago restaurant, Lula Cafe. Since Lula’s opening in 1999, Hammel has been one of the pioneering chefs establishing close ties with Midwestern farmers and championing the farm-to-table movement in Chicago.

During his Assembly talk, Hammel discussed the value of understanding each other's stories in the hospitality industry, the hard work that goes into leading an award-winning restaurant, and the importance of food to one’s community and family. 

Hammel also talked about co-founding Pilot Light, a food and nutrition education non-profit that serves children in more than 25 school districts nationwide.

Following his presentation, a brunch was held in Hammel’s honor, featuring one of Lula’s famous dishes: baked feta and olives. Another renowned Lula dish–the chickpea and fennel tagine–was served during lunch hours alongside a sweet potato and miso soup. Following Assembly, Hammel attended classes, toured the campus, and engaged in extended conversations with students and faculty.

The Hopkins Fellows program was established in 2005 to enrich the Hopkins learning experience by exposing students to alumni who inspire, challenge, engage, and educate through sharing their unique life experiences.


Click here to watch the full assembly.