Chef Sarah Labensky was Founding Director of the Culinary Arts Institute at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, MS. She taught cooking and management courses, and administered the school’s four-year baccalaureate degree program in Culinary Arts from 1997-2005. Prior to joining MUW’s faculty, she was a Professor of Culinary Arts at Scottsdale (Arizona) Community College. Before teaching, Chef Sarah spent many years as a working pastry cook and caterer. In April 2006, Sarah purchased The Front Door and Back Door restaurants, located in downtown Columbus, MS. She quickly expanded the operation to add a gourmet retail area and coffee shop. Sarah also owned and operated The Green Olive Italian Restaurant for four years, as well as WAG a shop for pets and their people, both in Columbus. In September 2012, Chef Sarah sold the Front Door/Back Door Restaurants in order to focus on her writing and consulting activities. Sarah is co-author of the best-selling culinary textbook, On Cooking: A Textbook of Culinary Fundamentals (Prentice Hall, 1995; 5th ed., 2010). She also co-authored On Baking (Pearson Education, 2005; 3rd ed., 2012); The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Cooking Techniques and Science; Webster’s New World Dictionary of Culinary Arts; The Prentice Hall Essentials Dictionary of Culinary Art; and Applied Math for Food Service. Chef Sarah has edited or compiled several other cookbooks, and written numerous articles for trade magazines. She is a Past President of the 4,000-member International Association of Culinary Professionals, and a founding member of the Southern Foodways Alliance.In her former life, Sarah was a practicing attorney, with a J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University. She also holds a B.S. degree in Political Science and Public Administration from Murray (Kentucky) State University and a Culinary Certificate from Scottsdale (Arizona) Community College. She has been repeatedly included in Marquis’ Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who of American Women. She is originally from Murray, Kentucky, and has also lived in Phoenix and Nashville.In addition to good food, Chef Sarah is also passionate about travel and animals. She is currently Mom to two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, one Chihuahua-mix and seven cats of questionable pedigree.