My Story
After three years of retirement from full-time academics, the time seems right to start a new venture. Since I have the unique advantage of having spent half of my career in the hospitality industry and the other half in academics, it seemed only natural to focus on a point where the two come together, STUDENT INTERNSHIPS.
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So, I’m launching a threefold approach addressing students, industry and academics to support internships in hospitality and tourism management, as well as MICE (meetings and events).
For more details on my story, please check out my LinkedIn Profile and YouTube Channel
My Qualifications Specific to Student Internships
My industry experience with student interns was a very positive one.
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👉 Hotels – In Santa Barbara I hired several student interns from UCSB, one of whom I later hired in a full time sales position with Shangri-la Hotels. I designed the structure of the internship experience in a single department.
👉 Convention and Visitors Bureau – During my time as Vice President of Marketing at the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, I hired and/or managed several student interns including one from Cornell University and one from UNLV. In each case, I oversaw the responsibilities of the student.
I’ve had a long history of involvement and leadership at all levels of internships in the hospitality and tourism curriculum. Here are some of the highlights:
👉 SFSU – faculty coordinator for both internship courses in the curriculum. Additionally, participated in the redevelopment of the degree program that led two designing a new internship course combining the previous two courses I coordinated
👉 Hong Kong PolyU SHTM – as Undergraduate Programme Director, oversaw curriculum changes in all the programs offered that involved restructuring of the internship courses
👉 USF – as Department Chair, led the restricting of the entire degree curriculum that included internship changes. Also taught the course with a professional development element designed to prepare the students for internships
👉 SIT – led the launch of the degree program in hospitality business as Programme Director that involved structuring two internship related courses. Also supervised a number of students during their 8-month long internship requirement.
👉 CalPoly – supervised my share of students doing their required internship at the end of the academic program.