Ms. Dana Babel

Resident District Manager

Ms. Babel began her career with Sodexo and its predecessor companies in the fall of 1989 as a student employee while attending Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality, Restaurant and Travel Administration, she chose to forge a career in the hospitality industry.

Ms. Babel has held numerous positions within the Sodexo organization including catering manager, general manager and District Manager. In 2013 she began her role as the Resident District Manager for Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. She earned this position by demonstrating a thorough command of all aspects of the higher education foodservice business.

Dana’s professional duties include responsibility for overseeing all aspects of Indiana State University’s dining service programs, creating comprehensive business plans to penetrate and grow targeted market segments and to align programming and services with company and client goals and/or initiatives.

Adept at motivating and leading the people who work for her, Babel has a critical eye for spotting problems and developing solutions. In short, she understands and is committed to the success of the campus she serves. These accomplishments include implementing national and regional retail brand concepts, partnering with her clients in developing dining renovations and expansions, and creating new catering and conference strategies.

Babel works to ensure a business environment that is inclusive with appropriate and effective communication while promoting the Sodexo and client culture, mission, values, and management philosophy.

Personal and professional affiliations include the Women’s Foodservice Forum; United Campus Ministry Board; IMPACT; 100+ Women Who Care – Vigo County; HRTA Student Advisory Board, SIU-Carbondale. She is also a charter member of two Sodexo Network Groups: WiNG – Women’s Network Group, and the African American Leadership Forum.