Devante Dickerson (they/them), professionally known as Waverly, is a chef, educator, and aspiring food griot based in New York City. Raised in Brooklyn, they operate at the crossroads of food, fashion, storytelling, and education.

A lifelong passion for cooking is matched only by a commitment to learning. They hold a BA in Hospitality Management from New York City College of Technology and are pursuing an MA in Food Studies at NYU Steinhardt. Their work spans kitchens, classrooms, and digital spaces, exploring how food connects people to culture, identity, and history—always with a chic eye toward education, narrative, and empowerment.

Their culinary journey began at the Brooklyn STEAM Center with a CTE-endorsed diploma in Culinary Arts and has taken them through kitchens including Russ & Daughters, BonbiteNYC, and Fieldtrip Harlem. They served as Apprentice Chef de Cuisine at Columbia University and staged in France under MasterChef Alex Saint-Martin at the Michelin-recognized Le Viscos through the Thomas Ahrens International Work Study Program.

Waverly's teaching career spans NYC public schools, including Food and Finance High School, Long Island City High School, and their former High School, earning recognition as one of the youngest recipients of the United Federation of Teachers' Outstanding Educator Award in 2024.

Outside the kitchen and classroom, they can usually be found shopping for clothes and living life à la Carrie Bradshaw.

In short: Waverly is Cool!