Chef Jeffrey MacDonald, CCC, chef de cuisine at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, was named the 2025 ACF Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation.

MacDonald qualified for the award by winning the NACUFS 2024 Culinary Challenge, the association’s ACF-sanctioned national competition that takes place during its annual national conference.

The ACF Chef of the Year award “recognizes an outstanding culinarian working in a full-service dining facility who demonstrates the highest standard of culinary skill, advances the cuisine of America, and gives back to the profession through the mentorship of students and apprentices,” per a release.z