Student Employee: Meghana Manjunath
April 3, 2025 | By Reem Hasan
Meghana Manjunath’s love for cooking began in seventh grade, inspired by South Indian cuisine like Dosa and Idli Sambar. Over the years, she has sharpened her skills through cooking competitions and brings that passion to life by working at NC State Dining.
Now a second-year master’s student in computer engineering, she found her place at Clark Dining Hall early in the academic year. Her love for cooking and her desire for a job led her to find the perfect match in working at Clark. In addition to Clark, she also worked at Smoothie U in the Atrium Food Court.
“I applied for positions involving cooking because it’s something I’ve always loved,” she explains. She started as an assistant cook, where she prepped vegetables, followed recipes and ensured hygienic practices in a busy kitchen. From attending the grill to serving customers, she embraced the hands-on learning experience of preparing diverse dishes, her favorites including pizzas and burgers.
“Cooking is more than just a job for me; it’s a passion that brings me closer to home,” she says.
Meghana’s home is Mysore, India, where she discovered her passion for cooking in the seventh grade. “South Indian cuisine is my favorite [cuisine] to cook,” she explains, “but I also enjoy making pizzas and burgers.”
Beyond the kitchen, her experience at NC State Dining has taught her valuable life skills.
“It’s about learning how to approach challenges and communicate effectively, whether with customers or my managers,” she says.
This ability to adapt and navigate new experiences became especially important when she faced health challenges that required her to take a semester off from work. With support from her managers and campus health resources, she focused on recovery and returned the following semester, finding a balance with her course load and her role at Clark Dining Hall.
Her goal is to keep her passion for cooking alive after graduation. She is looking for ways to code during the day and cook at night.
- College:
Engineering - Major/minor:
Computer Engineering - Hometown:
Mysore, India - Work Department:
NC State Dining – Clark Dining Hall
