News for the Hospitality Executive |
(January 19, 2012, East Lansing, Michigan) - Dr. Ray Schmidgall, Hilton Hotels Professor of Hospitality Financial Management in The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, has received the University of Delaware Michael D. Olsen Research Achievement Award. The award honors Dr. Olsen and recognizes his contributions to the body of hospitality knowledge and his mentoring of graduate students. Dr. Olsen earned both his bachelor’s degree (1967) and his MBA (1973) from MSU’s School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management, and is professor emeritus at Virginia Tech. He was awarded with The School’s Alumni Association Lifetime Academic Achievement Award in 2009. Dr. Schmidgall’s award was presented on January 6 at the 17th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research in Hospitality and Tourism Conference’s Awards Dinner at Auburn University. Dr. Schmidgall has taught in The School for nearly 37 years, and is widely recognized as an expert on hospitality industry accounting practices and known for his work on behalf of the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (I-CHRIE) and its FutureFund. As Hilton Hotels Professor, Dr. Schmidgall has hosted the Hilton Lecture Series at MSU for the past 22 years, bringing to campus industry and academic experts to discuss a different, timely topic each Fall. His book, “Managerial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry,” is used by hospitality schools throughout the world. Many of Dr. Schmidgall’s former students have gone on to great success, including Rich Conti (MBA ’76), president of The Plasencia Group, and John Weeman (MBA ’79), president of Partners in Development. The Michael D. Olsen Research Achievement Award recognizes an individual “who has made a significant contribution through sustained and focused research leading to important contributions to the body of knowledge in hospitality and tourism. It considers the overall contribution to the academy, including serving on editorial review boards, international symposia and conferences, graduate education, and mentoring of graduate students.” Dr. Olsen says, “The award represents the outstanding productivity of a scholar who has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge in hospitality. Dr. Schmidgall’s work demonstrates how important it is for all hospitality researchers to pursue the advancement of knowledge and to share it with academics and practitioners alike.” Dr. Schmidgall was equally gracious, saying, “Michael D. Olsen, in my judgment, has impacted hospitality education in a greater degree than any other educator I have known. It is a great honor to receive this prestigious award named after him.” WE ARE THE SCHOOL™ “WE” includes students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners. “THE” reflects our 85-year expertise in Hospitality Business management and operations, and the addition of a real estate understanding and thinking like an owner throughout our curriculum. About The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University: We are The School Recognized as the top-ranked hospitality business school, The School has a unique and industry-specific position within the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. Celebrating its 85th anniversary year in 2012, The School has almost 10,000 graduates worldwide, including a number of leading academicians and industry executives who have earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1927, The School offers an exceptionally well-crafted curriculum, taught by innovative professors who are leading textbook authors, sought-after consultants, and respected researchers. The mission of The School is
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Contact: Lena Loeffler 517-353-9211 [email protected] |