ICHRIE 2018: Human Sciences Faculty Win Awards in Hospitality and Tourism Education

The ICHRIE 2018 conference featured informative presentations with the latest in educational research. Attendees were welcomed to exciting opportunities in new educational approaches, updated industry information, the exchange of creative ideas, and connecting with fellow ICHRIE members.

This year two faculty members and one graduate student in the Department of Hospitality and Retail Management (HRM) were honored with ICHRIE conference awards. Executive Associate Dean for Academics, Research, and Faculty Development, Lynn Huffman, Ph.D., was awarded the Joe Perdue Memorial Award as an acknowledgment of her service to the Accrediting Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

Lynn Huffman, Ph.D.

Dr. Huffman has been actively involved in ACPHA since its beginnings, helping with much of the initial planning. As a founding faculty member of the Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management (RHIM) program at Texas Tech University, the RHIM program was among one of the first to seek initial accreditation for in 1993.

"I was a long-time member of ICHRIE, chairing many committees and serving on the Board of Directors for several years. I always attended the ICHRIE conference and found it to be an excellent source of information and networking that benefitted the RHIM program."

She served 12 years on the ACPHA Commission with two of those years were as Vice Chair. Dr. Huffman has participated as a team member on numerable accreditation visits and has chaired over 15 site visitations. In addition, she has served as a valued consultant to several schools planning accreditation applications and for several programs needing assistance to address commission concerns.

"The award was named for Joe Perdue, a good friend and colleague, so it is doubly meaningful to me," Dr. Huffman said.

Jingxue (Jessica) Yuan, Ph.D., and Helena Williams

Dr. Jessica Yuan and Hospitality Administration Ph.D. student Helena Williams were selected for the ICHRIE Penn State Research Reports Competition Award. This award celebrates the team's report submission, titled "Tourists, Not Industry Experts, Create Memorable Tourists' Experience."

"Over 40 research reports were submitted this year and we were one of the five winners recognized at the Award Ceremony," Dr. Yuan explains.

For Helena, being able to network with leaders in the tourism and hospitality industry allowed her to examine the implications and potential of her own research.

"It was encouraging to learn that this professional educators' organization is keeping pace with and in many ways leading this charge. Dr. Yuan and I were honored to be recognized by this group," Helena said.