Category: Fall 2015
Department update from Melody LeHew
The new academic year is off to a great start.
Two new faculty members joined the Hospitality Management family in August, bringing fresh energy and perspective.
The transformation to a stand-alone department continues as we conduct a thorough review of learning competencies essential to prepare the next generation of hospitality professionals. We are also assessing key opportunities that will enable significant enrollment growth over the next five years; evaluating our standards of practice to identify areas of student learning environment improvement; and establishing a department culture that enhances professional growth and development opportunities for students, staff and faculty members.
In the reorganization of programs in the department formerly known as Hospitality Management and Dietetics, faculty members made a unanimous decision for the dietetics programs to join the Department of Human Nutrition with hospitality management programs remaining in a renamed Department of Hospitality Management.
The transition is underway on an administrative level. However, current students will continue in their programs of study and should notice very little difference in their educational experience this semester.
Students learn that hospitality is global
As the hospitality industry continues to grow around the world, the K-State Department of Hospitality Management faculty eyes transformational student experiences in faraway places. Their goal is to prepare students for a hospitality career in a global economy.
Two faculty-led trips this spring took students to France and to Northern Ireland. Plans are underway for study-abroad trips this school year. Continue reading “Students learn that hospitality is global”
Alumni Spotlight – Chris Graham
What experiences at K-State were helpful in your current job?
Two experiences really jump out to me about my 5 years at K-State.
K-State requirement of internships was a huge benefit. I ended up doing three internships while at K-State and I would have never have been able to gain my first job out of school without this real world experience. I was fortunate to start at one of finest clubs in the country and without the internships I wouldn’t have been considered.
Getting the required minor business administration has been a tremendous help and learning experience. I use various information every day from these courses. Continue reading “Alumni Spotlight – Chris Graham”
Intern Spotlight – Mary Estes
Mary Estes, senior, hospitality management
Hometown: Derby, Kansas
Internship: Pinstripes, a dining and entertainment venue that features bowling, bocce, event space and weekend music.
What did you do during your internship?
My internship this summer took me on a journey to Chicago, Illinois. I was a catering sales intern for the Italian-American Bistro, Pinstripes. During the last three weeks of my internship, I had the opportunity to transition to the Minneapolis, Minnesota, location, the top catering sales Pinstripes location, to start working as a catering sales manager.
During my short stay in Minneapolis, I assisted in implementing a strategic marketing plan with the intention to maintain and exceed current and future sales opportunities. After the project our sales increased by 19.7 percent and our future reservations increased by 67 percent, compared to the last year, same period sales. Continue reading “Intern Spotlight – Mary Estes”
Meet our new faculty
Two faculty members have joined the Department of Hospitality Management this fall – Kristin Malek and Daniel Bernstein.
Malek, assistant professor, has more than 10 years of work experience in the convention and event industry. This year she received a Ph.D. in hospitality administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
She has been involved in a variety of consultant and research roles related to leisure, corporate, association, and medical events. Currently, her research interests focus on consumer behavior and various issues that affect event management to include marketing, destination image, sustainability and organizational behavior.
Bernstein, instructor, teaches an Introduction to the Hospitality Industry and
Environmental Issues in the Hospitality Industry. Other areas of teaching interest include cost control, hospitality law, customer sales and service, hotel operations and hospitality marketing.
He has an M.B.A. in hospitality administration from the University of New Haven, Connecticut, and an Ed.D. in educational administration from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion.
His research interests include cost control, service accommodations, airline industry and sociological issues pertaining to the hospitality industry.