Student Snapshot: Sam Neuburger ’24
Photo by Walker Kmetz ’25.
After a class in American food culture, Sam Neuburger ’24 discovered a passion for culinary history and food writing.
Hometown:
Mount Kisco, N.Y.
Major:
Clubs and organizations:
Gaming Club and Alpha Phi Omega (APO).
Honors/scholarships/awards:
Dean’s List.
Best thing about my major:
I love how varied the subject matter is. The discussions prompted by American studies are always incredibly rich and nuanced. A lot of the lessons we learn will eventually come up in everyday conversations with friends or inspire later research.
Favorite class:
African American Foodways with Associate Professor of Africana Studies Lynn Johnson. Her class led me to think more in depth about culture and served as a reminder of our cyclical history. The texts and her lectures were incredibly engaging and prompted me to become more interested in how pop culture is shaped by history. This course also led me down the path to culinary history and food writing.
Favorite movie/show/podcast:
Schmigadoon! and Succession.
Favorite professor:
Professor of American Studies Cotten Seiler. All the courses I’ve taken have been interesting, and I always appreciate the passion and energy he brings to his lectures. At some point, all the subjects will circle back around to current media, and it’s unbelievably satisfying to see all the historical threads fall into place.
If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be …
… J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. He is a food writer who’s written for The New York Times and Serious Eats. I would love to ask what prompted his foray into culinary arts, given his parents’ more scientific and academic backgrounds, and what advice he has for anyone looking to expand their palate. I’d also like to ask how to more eloquently describe the characteristics of a dish.
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Published August 10, 2023