Kevin Roberts has been named interim department head for the Department of Hospitality Management, College of Health and Human Sciences. This will be Roberts’ second time serving as the department’s interim head.
“I want to thank Dr. Roberts for his willingness to serve both the college and the department as the interim department head of hospitality management, said Dean John Buckwalter. “He has my full confidence as he leads this department as they explore opportunities and address immediate challenges. I am excited to have him as part of the leadership team in the college”
Roberts is a professor in the Department of Hospitality Management, director of the undergraduate program in hospitality management, and co-director of the Center for Food safety Research in Child Nutrition Programs. Roberts teaches in the areas of foodservice management and hospitality law. He has been recognized for his outstanding teaching and research and has received the Kansas State University Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the College of Human Ecology Myers-Alford Outstanding Teaching Award, and the College of Human Ecology Research Excellence Award.
“I’m honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve the department again as interim head,” Roberts said. “I appreciate having the support of my colleagues and the confidence of the Dean to fill this position as we move forward with some very exciting initiatives within the department.”
Roberts noted the department is working hard to increase the presence of the program in Kansas and throughout the Midwest and to reconnect with the industry and alumni. Of particular importance, Roberts noted the faculty are working hard to increase the enrollment at both the undergraduate and graduate-levels, “we’ve seen a decline in the number of Kansas students interested in hospitality management, but this is a trend we see across the country. Many students don’t know our program exists and we need to do a better job at marketing the program and highlighting the careers students are able to acquire with a degree in hospitality management.”
Roberts earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in hotel, restaurant and institution management from Iowa State University and his doctorate from K-State in 2008. Roberts serves as director of the Center of Excellence for Food Safety Research in Child Nutrition Programs, serves as a commissioner on the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration, the accreditation program for all two- and four-years hospitality management programs, and on the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute Education Certification Advisory Council.