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Areas of Expertise

• Business communications, marketing, customer experience (CX), customer service quality, brand loyalty, sustainable tourism/ecotourism, wine tourism, tourism economics, hotel and resort management, event production, wedding planning, revenue management

Education

• B.S. in recreation and sport management, Indiana State University (2002)
• M.H.R.T.M. in hotel, restaurant and tourism management, University of South Carolina (2004)
• Ph.D. in hotel and restaurant management, Auburn University (2009)

What's My Why?

My “why” is rooted in a deep passion for hospitality, tourism and the transformative power of travel. Some of the most meaningful learning happens beyond the classroom, whether that’s navigating a new destination, experiencing different cultures or bringing ideas to life through real-world projects. I love working closely with students and creating hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that mirror the energy and complexity of the industry. Hospitality is ultimately about people, connection and creating moments that matter and I strive to bring that same spirit into every class; helping students discover their path with confidence, curiosity and purpose.

Professional Experience

My career has been shaped by a blend of academic leadership and hands-on hospitality experience, spanning more than 25 years across both higher education and the hospitality industry. I have served in senior academic leadership roles, including dean, director, department chair and program director, with a strong focus on experiential learning and program innovation.

In addition to my work at ������, I currently serve as director of academic programs for Accelerating Leaders, where I design and deliver executive education for global hospitality organizations across the U.S. and the Caribbean and am the founder of the Hospitality Learning Collaborative, through which I support industry professionals through consulting, training and leadership development.

My early industry experience was rooted primarily in operations, including special event sales, promotion, planning and production with a Starwood luxury resort and as an independent business owner, as well as in hotel front office management with Hilton properties.

My work in hospitality and tourism has also taken me well beyond the classroom. I have created and led university courses throughout the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and across diverse ecosystems in Belize, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I have authored textbook chapters and journal articles, contributed to numerous media outlets and served in roles as visiting professor and guest lecturer at multiple universities across Europe.

In addition to these roles, I am deeply engaged in community and industry service through roles such as vice chair of the boards for both Discover Newport and the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the board of directors for the Rhode Island Hospitality Education Foundation, among other engagements within the Newport community and beyond.

Media Coverage

• Boston Public Radio

Selected Publications

Rethinking Assessment: Community-Engaged Experiential Learning and Complex Environments in Business from a Student Perspective. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, vol. 23, no. 8, Aug. 2024, pp. 1-18.

The Impact of Tourism on Local Public Resources: A Case Study on Tourists' Use of Emergency Services in Newport, RI. June 2024 Conference: Ninth International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Building Entrepreneurship: Evaluating the Impact of Collegiate Entrepreneurial Programs on Business Startups in States. January 2022 Conference: Northeast Business & Economics Association Proceedings

Affective Domain’s Role in Student Outcomes and Retention. Interactive Presentation at 2018 New England Faculty Development Consortium

Service Quality, Brand Loyalty and Wine Tourism. In K. Lee (Ed.), Strategic Winery Tourism and Management: Building Competitive Winery Tourism and Winery Management Strategy (pp. 205-236). CRC Press. Textbook Chapter.