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Department of Hospitality Management

Author: Jane Marshall

Hundreds gather to honor Canter, Barrett and Pesci as they retire

Posted on by Jane Marshall
Ki-Joon Back was one of several former students and colleagues "roasting" the retirees.
Ki-Joon Back was one of several former students and colleagues “roasting” the retirees. (Photos by Seunghyun Brian Park, Ph.D. candidate)

There was food and wine. There was music by the K-State Faculty Jazz Band. There were name tags, babies and gifts.

But mostly there was conversation and laughter.

The three retiring faculty members being feted – Pat Pesci (Mr. P.), Deb Canter (Dr. C) and Betsy Barrett (Dr. B.) – had run up 100 years of service to K-State and the Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics. Together they have taught, challenged, mentored and befriends thousands of students.

Many of those former students, now college professors and business professionals themselves, returned to Justin Hall on May 2 to give their best wishes to the retirees. A new study abroad scholarship fund and the Dietetics Excellence Fund will accept donations in their honor. (Details below.)

Giving kind, gentle, humorous, heartfelt and often teary roasts were: Continue reading “Hundreds gather to honor Canter, Barrett and Pesci as they retire” →

Scholarship, excellence funds to honor past, benefit future

Posted on by Jane Marshall
Deb Canter with former student xxxx.
Deb Canter with dietetics senior Johannah O’Malley.

The party’s over but the good wishes and appreciation continue from around the globe.

The K-State Foundation has made possible opportunities to salute Dr. Canter, Mr. Pesci and Dr. Barrett and their commitment to K-State students and to dietetics and hospitality management.

Virginia Webb, Ph.D. '12, with Pat Pesci
Virginia Webb, Ph.D. ’12, with Pat Pesci

The Patrick H. Pesci and Elizabeth B. Barrett Study Abroad Scholarship in Hospitality Management and Dietetics has been established in recognition of Mr. Pesci and Dr. Barrett’s dedicated service to the College of Human Ecology.

Donations in Deb Canter’s name will be funneled into the Dietetics Excellence Fund   to be used to help students.

To give to either fund, follow the links above or contact the K-State Foundation at 800-432-1578. Continue reading “Scholarship, excellence funds to honor past, benefit future” →

LeHew reports on Program Exchange, new department vision

Posted on by Jane Marshall
Melody LeHew, acting department head
Melody LeHew, acting department head

The academic year is passing quickly. Faculty and staff members of Hospitality Management and Dietetics (HMD) have been working diligently to craft a new vision, and articulate a strategy that will create strong program identity and build a transformational educational experience for the next generation of professionals.

In January we held a Program Exchange – a roundtable event with national experts from the hospitality management and dietetics disciplines as part of the strategic planning process. We had four objectives:

  1. Identify perceived reputation and strengths of the department and programs.
  2. Identify professional, industry and societal trends impacting and/or shaping hospitality management and dietetics education and research.
  3. Identify opportunities and areas of potential vulnerability for our programs.
  4. Identify potential strategic initiatives that HMD may pursue in light of core strengths, unique aspects and opportunities on the horizon, as well as potential challenges and ways to counteract or avoid them.

Continue reading “LeHew reports on Program Exchange, new department vision” →

Penny McConnell to be 2015 Shugart lecturer

Posted on by Jane Marshall
Penny McConnell

Penny McConnell, widely recognized as a national leader in school nutrition and dietetics, will present the 41st Annual Grace M. Shugart Lecture at 1:30 p.m. April 16 on the Kansas State University campus.

She is the director of food and nutrition services for Fairfax County Public Schools, Springfield, Va. Her lecture will be “Navigating the Seas of Change.”

McConnell says that her office aims to provide students food and nutrition knowledge, skills and values they will need for healthy bodies in an ever-changing global society.

Continue reading “Penny McConnell to be 2015 Shugart lecturer” →

Travel and Dining Auction opens doors on May 1

Posted on by Jane Marshall
Students served a variety of appetizers at the 2014 auction.
Students served a variety of appetizers at the 2014 auction.
Grace Callison pushed raffle tickets in 2014.
Grace Callison pushed raffle tickets in 2014.

The 19th Travel and Dining Auction will convene at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, in the Hilton Garden Inn and Manhattan Conference Center, 410 South Third Street.

Student team leaders Maddy Irvine, Grace Callison, Taylor Myers and Brae Halling are among the dozens of students involved in planning, preparing and working the auction.

Reservations are available online.

Donations are being accepted through April 1. All donations are tax deductible and donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes. To donate, call Nancy Hansen King at 785-532-5023 or 316-258-2700.

Continue reading “Travel and Dining Auction opens doors on May 1” →