Zulaikha Reesha Rashaad 

Dedicated academic and culinary educator with a strong foundation in food studies and hospitality management.

 Zulaikha Reesha Rashaad is a dedicated academic and culinary educator with a strong foundation in food studies and hospitality management.She holds a Master of Philosophy (Food Studies) from Taylor’s University, Malaysia, and a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts Management from the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (FHTS), Maldives National University. 

She began her professional journey as an external facilitator at the Civil Service Training Institute before joining FHTS in 2016 as a full-time Lecturer. Since then, she has contributed significantiy to the development of culinary education in the Maldives National University, nurturing future professionals and guiding students to excel both in the classroom and in culinary competition at national and international levels. 

Currently serving as the Head ofthe Department of Food and Beverage Management at FHTS, she is deeply passionate about training the next generation of culinary professionals and advancing the standards of the local hospitality industry. 

In addition to her academic responsibilities, she has actively participated in numerous university-level and faculty-level committees.

On the international stage, she serves as a member of the Industry Advisory Panel for the School of Food Studies and Gastronomy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management at Taylor's University, reflecting her strong academic and industry connections beyond the Maldives. Her research interests lie in culinary heritage construction, gastronomy, culinary tourism development, sustainability in food studies, and the sociological and anthropological dimensions of food.