Renowned chef and multimedia storyteller David Chang will deliver the keynote address to USC Annenberg’s graduating class on May 12.
Chang is widely considered one of the most influential chefs of his generation for reinventing the casual dining experience. He is best known as the owner of the Momofuku Restaurant Group, starting with his first ever restaurant Momofuku Noodle Bar in lower Manhattan of New York. He currently holds two Michelin stars for his restaurants.
His winding career path has taught him the importance of taking risks professionally.
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear and jealousy. Don’t worry about making a misstep in your career choice as long as you are trying to learn and totally immerse yourself in your job,” Chang said in an email interview with Annenberg Media. “Also stop comparing yourself to your peers. You are gonna be on your on timeline. Just keep pushing.”
In a press release, Dean Willow Bay of USC Annenberg recognized the unique perspective Chang brings to the table as a nontraditional storyteller.
“With his remarkable ability to communicate across mediums and industries, David expands our world view through a fascinating exploration of food and culture,” Bay said. “While leveraging the power of storytelling, he has become a trailblazing force for connecting new ideas and traditions in kitchens and the cultures they represent.”
With a diverse multimedia background, Chang has experienced everything from documentaries to podcasting to writing books and memoirs. As a television personality, Chang has produced and hosted documentaries such as Netflix’s “Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner” and “Ugly Delicious.” Chang also runs the Spotify podcasts “The Dave Chang Show” and “Recipe Club.” His New York Times best-selling cookbooks “Momofuku” and “Cooking At Home” along with his memoir, “Eat a Peach,” add to his varied media portfolio.
With his trailblazing approach in combining storytelling with the culinary arts, Chang continues to push the boundaries of media and representation through the unique medium of food.
“Take time to explore what exactly is ‘your voice’ the idiosyncrasies and peculiarities that interest you and only you. You want to make sure that what you’re communicating isn’t the same as anyone else’s,” Chang said.
Having grown up in suburban Washington, D.C. as the son of North Korean immigrant parents, Chang initially majored in religious studies, but ended up pursuing his passions in the International Culinary Center’s Classic Culinary Arts program after graduating from college. There, he interacted with legendary chefs and perfected combining a classic European culinary training with the art of soba making to produce his own noodle dish. He opened his first restaurant in 2004, kicking off his culinary franchise.
Previous commencement speakers have included figures such as talk show host and producer Oprah Winfrey, former first lady of California Maria Shriver, sport-marketing businessman and media personality Maverick Carter and most recently, ABC News’ senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott.
This story has been updated to include a statement from David Chang, obtained by Annenberg Media April 12.