Noppanit “Meena” Monaghan and Keerati (Danny) Sartyoungkul share a passion for preparing meals “the right way” and, at Elon Dining, they even share a kitchen.
Keerati “Danny” Sartyoungkul describes himself as a “social chameleon,” someone who can find common ground with just about anyone he meets.
“If you’re Asian American or from the motherland [Thailand] or from down south or up north, I feel something in common with you,” he said.
Sartyoungkul’s experiences shape how he cooks and how he leads. As executive chef for Elon Dining, he focuses on creating meals that people recognize, enjoy and feel comfortable choosing.
“I love seeing people enjoy my food,” he said.
Noppanit “Meena” Monaghan shares the same excitement for creating an enjoyable meal. As chef de partie, she prepares meals at the international station in Lakeside Dining Hall. She is also Sartyoungkul’s mother and, together, they focus on getting the details right, from how a dish is prepared to how it lands with the people eating it.
“I work with students every day who are trying to make Elon a home away from home,” Monaghan said. “It’s important I try everything that goes out to make sure it is 100 percent right.”
That attention to detail often means learning dishes that are new to them. Sartyoungkul said they spend time researching recipes, studying techniques and planning menus to authentically reflect the food where students come from.
For Monaghan, that care shows up in small, specific moments.
“I made arepas for a student from Colombia and she loved it,” she said.
For Sartyoungkul, those moments explain why the work matters. A single meal can help one student feel familiar while introducing others to something new.
“Many international students miss the food from home,” he said. “Providing familiar tastes helps students feel seen, valued and more at ease in their campus environment.”
That belief carries into how he works with student groups across campus. During Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Sartyoungkul partnered with the Asian Pacific Student Association to plan dining hall takeovers featuring Malaysian, Chinese and Japanese cuisines. Students identified the cuisines and worked with him to shape the menus.
For him, the process is as important as the food itself. It ensures the meals reflect what students want to see and what they want to share with others.
“I don’t want anyone to feel left out,” he said. “Whether you’re vegan, from another country, have dietary preferences or religious needs or an allergy, we want to make sure there are options for everybody.”
That sense of care is rooted in family. Sartyoungkul describes himself as a third-generation chef who learned alongside his mother in the kitchen.
“Mom beats me at Asian foods, especially with her great stir fries and Thai noodle dishes,” he said. “However, I am trained on European cuisine and steaks, so I have her beat there.”
Still, there are moments when their strengths meet in the middle. Those moments often bring people together.
At Elon’s annual holiday party for employees, Monaghan manages a shrimp and grits station that regularly draws long lines of guests waiting for a plate. The dish reflects both comfort and confidence, with attention paid to technique as well as familiarity.
For Monaghan, the setting may change. The standards do not.
At work, their relationship is grounded in respect. They understand their roles and trust each other’s strengths.
“My mother and I are very close,” Sartyoungkul said. “While she is my mother, I am also her campus executive chef, and we both clearly understand and respect those roles.”
For Monaghan, the work always comes back to the people she serves each day.
“I work to make students smile,” she said.
Together, Sartyoungkul and Monaghan prepare food that reflects a wide range of cultures. Their work is guided by care, connection and a desire to help others feel at home, one plate at a time.
Elon honors Asian & Pacific Island Heritage Month
As part of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Elon University is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Asian and Pacific Islander students, faculty and staff who contribute to a campus environment where cultural identities and experiences are celebrated year-round. Throughout the month, Elon is also recognizing API Heritage Month through a series of events and programming.