The face of USF Dining: Ms. Lisa

The University of St. Francis (USF) has numerous places across campus where students can go to dine, including the Cafe and Bernie’s Pub. One of these places, the Bistro, is located on the first floor of Motherhouse. Found at the Bistro is one of the local USF celebrities of campus, Lisa Walters, known as Ms. Lisa to the students and staff. 

An employee of the university since 2010, Ms. Lisa got her start through her friend and former cafeteria worker Ms. Diane. Since then, she has spent the last 16 years getting to know students and staff while serving them breakfast and lunch in the Bistro. Interacting with many people on the daily, Ms. Lisa has learned to remember her usual customers' orders through the sound of their voices. 

“I used to go to Lockport East, and we had this class called Wordology. You hear a person’s voice and you associate what they say with it,” Ms. Lisa said. “So when you make an order I hear it in my head. So each time I hear your voice, and if you order the same thing especially, then I remember it by the sound of your voice.” 

The Bistro has the longest hours of operation of any of the dining options on campus, opening at 7:30 a.m. every weekday and staying open until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 4 p.m. on Fridays. Despite the early opening time, Ms. Lisa day starts even earlier, making sure that everything in the area looks presentable for when students come in. 

“We come in early, start getting things ready. Presentation is the most important thing, so we have to get everything nice and neat,” Ms. Lisa said. “Then we have to start preparing our food, and then it will be time to open the doors before you know it. Breakfast starts at 7:30 [a.m.], and right after breakfast is over at 10:30 [a.m.] lunch begins, so there’s no break.”

Throughout the day, no matter how busy, Ms. Lisa will have many conversations with students and staff ranging from academic topics of classes and work, to more lighthearted topics such as weekend plans or sports. In these conversations, she always shares a powerful message for anybody that comes through her line. 

“Just believe that they can do anything, and as long as they try and they feel good about themself, [everything] will get better.” 

One of the greatest recognitions that Ms. Lisa has received in her time here was the Supporting Saint award at the 2024 Bernie Awards hosted by the Athletic Department. One of the only awards voted on by the student athletes, Ms. Lisa had no idea she was even nominated for the award, much less would be the recipient for it. 

“They tricked me, they had me come down there for a different reason to the [Bernie Awards]. I didn’t even know that I was nominated,” Ms. Lisa said. “Mr. Kimble had to come get me and walk me to the stage because I was shaking. I was so surprised but I was excited. It was a happy day in my life.” 

Outside of work, Ms. Lisa likes to spend time with her grandchildren and enjoys bowling as one of her hobbies. Her servant leadership does not stop here at USF either, as she also helps and provides for senior citizens in her community in her off time. While some days may seem long at the Bistro, her favorite part about USF is also what keeps her going each and every day. 

“The children. The way they make me laugh and the way they make me feel, they give me a youth kind of feeling, like I’m young again. I love them, I’ve been here for 16 years and it always gets better.”