News for the Hospitality Executive |
(August 10, 2012, East Lansing, Michigan)
Achievement was the theme for The
School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University.
During
the annual conference for the International Council on Hotel,
Restaurant, and
Institutional Educators (ICHRIE), one faculty member and two alumni
were
recognized for their lifetime achievements. On August 3 in Providence, Rhode Island, Dr. Ray Schmidgall, the Hilton Hotels professor of hospitality financial management in The School, received ICHRIE’s highest individual honor, the Howard B. Meek Award, a living memorial to the first dean of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and an executive vice president of ICHRIE. The award recognizes Ray’s lifetime contributions and outstanding service both to hospitality education and to ICHRIE. Receiving two standing ovations from the audience of hospitality educators, Ray’s legacy as a top expert on hospitality industry accounting practices is well recognized. Among his books, Hospitality Accounting for the Hospitality Industry is used throughout the world, and he has authored over 250 articles. Ray has spearheaded the effort to revise the uniform system of accounts for clubs. He has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students who have themselves helped shape the industry and the hospitality academy. Twenty three years ago, he established at Michigan State the Hilton Lecture Series, bringing to campus industry and academic experts to discuss a timely topic from both the industry and academic perspectives each Fall. And he is revered for his work on behalf of ICHRIE and its FutureFund. Ray earned ICHRIE’s John Wiley & Sons Lifetime Research Award in 1999 and the Stevenson W. Fletcher Achievement Award in 2001. Last year, he received the Michael D. Olsen Research Achievement Award at the 17th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research in Hospitality and Tourism Conference’s Awards Dinner. The late Dr. Olsen earned both his bachelor’s and MBA from the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management at MSU, as The School was then called. Eight faculty members, members of Ray’s family, and many friends, alumni, and supporters joined him in Providence for the presentation of the Meek Award. Also during the ICHRIE conference, The School’s Alumni Association presented its own Lifetime Academic Achievement Awards to two extraordinary and influential teachers, both alumni of The School. At an awards breakfast on August 2, Dr. Ron Cichy, professor and director of The School noted the contributions of the two honorees, saying, “Graduates of our School who go on to teach others confirm the old saying regarding teaching someone to fish rather than giving him a fish. Our alumni who become academicians teach hundreds and hundreds of students who then use what they have learned in their careers, each of them touching others and influencing the industry. It is an exponential influence.” Dr. Reginald Foucar-Szocki (BA ’77) is a professor of hospitality management at James Madison University. He began his career in 1978, filling an unexpected faculty vacancy at Buffalo State. He went on to earn a Master’s degree at the State University of College of New York, and became the founding director of Food Systems Management at Syracuse University. He earned his Ed.D. at Syracuse, and went on to become the J.W. Marriott professor and academic unit head at James Madison from 1996 – 2005. He continues there as professor in the School of Hospitality, Sport, and Recreation Management. Reg is the founding associate editor of Hosteur magazine, and served as ICHRIE president and chairman of the board from 1999 – 2001. Professor Robert B. Zemke, Jr. (MBA ’66) entered MSU’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management MBA program after earning a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Michigan University in math education. While enrolled, a professor, Dr. Lendal Kotschevar, suggested that with Bob’s science background, he might also become a registered dietitian. He took the advice, and successfully fused his expertise in hospitality education and dietetics to build and transform the Hospitality Department at Oakland Community College over a career spanning 37 years. As chairperson of the department from 1981 – 1989, Bob increased student credit hours, expanded the area of Culinary Arts, developed a Chef’s Apprentice program, and brought operational costs in line. In addition, under Bob’s leadership, both the Culinary Arts and the Chef’s Apprentice programs were accredited by the American Culinary Federation, and faculty members were brought on to accommodate greatly increased enrollments. Throughout his career, Bob took on leadership roles in the Dietetic Associations in the Detroit area, the State of Michigan, and the American Dietetic Association. Since 2007, Bob has been professor emeritus in Oakland Community College’s Culinary Studies Institute. Both men shared the award with family members who were present and were genuinely touched by the recognition of their alma mater. For The School, achievement was the theme throughout the ICHRIE conference. Several members of the faculty earned special awards and made winning presentations. In addition to Dr. Schmidgall’s Meek Award, The School celebrated the following:
WE ARE THE SCHOOL™ “WE” represents the tens of thousands of relationships among students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners. “THE” reflects our 85-year foundation of preparing the hospitality industry’s managers and operators. Today The School also emphasizes real estate and thinking like the owner throughout the curriculum, for all our students. 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
For more information, please visit us at www.hospitalitybusiness.msu.edu |
Contact: Lena Loeffler 517-353-9211 [email protected] |