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Meet Juan Dominguez, general manager of dining services at the University of New Haven. He looks forward to Thanksgiving each year and the opportunity it affords him to reflect on the many things he has to be grateful for.

November 14, 2019

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

The lifeblood of the University of New Haven are the faculty and staff members who dedicate their lives to helping our students reach their goals. Periodically, we’ll introduce you to a member of the staff so you can learn more about him or her – beyond their day to day work.

Next up is Juan Dominguez, general manager of dining services, who once aspired to be a professional soccer player.

Renee Chmiel: What was the first trip you ever took?
Juan Dominguez: My very first trip was to Argentina (for the record, I was born in Chile). I visited my sister, who was living in Buenos Aires at the time.

RC: What’s your favorite holiday?
JD: My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. They are so many things that we need to be thankful for, and during that time of the year, we get a huge reminder of how to appreciate our family, health, job, friends, and all the good things that happen to us.

RC: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
JD: I went through a few different stages, including aspiring to be a professional soccer player, to a lawyer, and a few things in between.

"I believe my biggest talent is keeping my life balanced."Juan Dominguez

RC: Do you follow any sports teams?
JD: After living in Rhode Island for a few years in the 1980s, I became a fan of all Boston teams. I follow the Patriots much more than the Bruins, Red Sox, or the Celtics. I love football and the NFL.

RC: What is the best gift you ever received?
JD: My first watch. It made me a very punctual person, and that has lasted to today.

RC: Do you have any hidden talents?
JD: I believe my biggest talent is keeping my life balance – balancing my various responsibilities, as a father, husband, friend, supervisor, and everything else I do.

RC: Do you have any pets?
JD: I do not have one now, but I am taking care of my daughter’s dog, Milo, while she is away at Providence College. My first pet was a dog named Valdez – named for Juan Valdez.