Administrator, Author at Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

International Exchange Student from Bolivia Reflects on Amazing Semester at FIU

For the first time, the Chaplin School welcomed an exchange student from the Universidad Católica Boliviana in La Paz, Bolivia. Alejandra Rúa Apaza traveled to the U.S. for the first time to take hospitality classes at the Chaplin School for the Spring 2014 semester. As a senior, she wanted an academic experience that was different from what she was used to at home. As an aspiring tourism management professional, she wanted to spend her time abroad learning in a city where travel and tourism define the local business landscape. Why did you want to participate in an international exchange program? It was very important for me to participate in the international exchange program because I wanted to improve my knowledge, learn from different cultures and diverse points of view, and improve my English language skills. How is studying at FIU in Miami different from studying at your school in Bolivia? College life in Miami does not have a comparison. Being at FIU has given me the opportunity to expand my horizons and enhance my knowledge of the tourism industry, which, in my opinion is the window to the world for each country. Though it is time for me to return, I am carrying with me the best memories of my life. How did being away from home for the first time affect you? The U.S. is a completely different environment from La Paz. Spring 2014 was my first time studying in English, living away from my family, and living on a college campus. I thought I was going to get home sick, however, I was doing so much! I can’t remember one day where I didn’t have one or more activities going on such as seminars, [...]

Hospitality Faculty Engage at the Global Level

At the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, students are not the only ones who take advantage of going abroad. Each summer, Chaplin School faculty participate in exchange programs and lead study abroad trips that span the globe. This engagement at the instructional level is a reflection of the School’s mission to provide students with diverse perspectives and rich insights into the global hospitality and tourism industries. China/U.S. Faculty Exchange Program This summer, four faculty members from the Tianjin University of Commerce (FIU-TUC) in Tianjin, China will teach hospitality courses at the Chaplin School. Faculty exchanges take place every summer and have historically given hospitality professors in the U.S. the opportunity to teach in China at the Marriott Tianjin China Program while Chinese professors teach their discipline to students at the Chaplin School. Dr. Nancy Scanlon and Professor Pablo Simon are returning to China to teach courses in facilities and restaurant management and financial accounting, respectively. For two visiting professors from China, Summer 2014 is not the first time they have participated in the exchange. Chaplin School alumna Ms. Danqing Liu '07, who is now a professor at FIU-TUC, has taught Accounting for the Hospitality Industry for two summers at FIU. "I am very happy to return to the Chaplin School where my roots in hospitality began. [The ability to] exchange research ideas with other scholars and FIU-TUC faculty members is an invaluable experience for me and my Chinese colleagues," Ms. Lui said. FIU-TUC professor Mr. Jizhe (Jim) Sun has returned for his second exchange visit as well. In addition, Ms. Miao Wang '06 and Mr. Xian (Damon) Tian will teach Event Management and Hotel/Lodging Management courses as part of the summer exchange. Chaplin Faculty-Lead [...]

Professor’s Engineered Yeast Research Featured at eMerge Americas Techweek

FIU has partnered with the Technology Foundation of the Americas to host eMerge Americas Techweek, a conference that brought together civic leaders, industry titans, entrepreneurs, and global thought leaders with the purpose of establishing a technology hub for the Americas. The conference was an opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors to come together to develop and fund innovative projects and discuss the role of education in a tech-driven economy. Dr. Aaron Welch, Chaplin School professor, showcased his research of engineered yeast alongside other cutting-edge entrepreneurial research at FIU. Dr. Welch recently received a National Science Foundation grant to develop a strain of yeast that will consume Ochratoxin-A, a harmful carcinogen found in wine, and simultaneously allow for the production of safe, quality wines. To see more photos from the conference, visit FIU's Flickr page. Photo: Dr. Welch with a booth visitor at eMerge Americas Techweek on May 6.

Chaplin Students Test Skills and Gain Valuable Insight at Caribbean/Latin American Conferences

Chaplin School students provided administrative and logistical assistance at the two back-to-back conferences held in Miami, Florida on April 28 through May 1. The Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and the Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) concentrate on doing business in the regions, and bring together hotel owners, executives, investors, financial advisors, lawyer, architects, designers, and developers. Accompanied by Chaplin professor Greg Bohan, who served as the moderator for CHRIS, the students also got a chance to meet and network with some of the regions’ top movers and shakers. Photo: Chaplin School students with former Mexican President Vicente Fox at the HOLA Conference on May 1.

Students Mix Science and Ice Cream at Community Event

What happens when ice cream and science mix? If you ask Professor Mark D’Alessandro, the answer is nitrogen ice cream–a combination that results in the delicious and creamy dessert consumers are familiar with, but with quicker freeze time, thanks to liquid nitrogen. Making food with liquid nitrogen is not a new phenomenon. Food trucks have popped up all over the country doing just that and many chefs and bartenders are using liquid nitrogen in their menu creations. Professor D’Alessandro uses liquid nitrogen in his Culinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship course at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and is often asked to demonstrate its use at community events. "It’s a real crowd pleaser. People always want to know what’s going on at the station with the smoke. Especially the children," he said. In April, Professor D’Alessandro and student volunteers from his class sampled their creation at the Patricia and Philip Frost Museum of Science’s Second Annual Miami Eats event. The students came up with a peanut butter and jelly flavor combination that appealed to the palates of children attending the event. "We tested and modified the recipe and decided to serve it on a miniature sugar cone. It was a collaborative effort to develop and implement the plan," Professor D’Alessandro said. With far more than 31 flavor possibilities, Professor D’Alessandro’s innovative process was developed to complement any ice cream flavor as the liquid nitrogen serves as a really cold freezer at 320 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Professor D’Alessandro emphasized the management, collaborative, strategic planning, and customer service skills students had the opportunity to experience, while practicing a newly acquired food production technique. "One of our students’ greatest assets is to be able to accompany faculty out [...]

Hospitality Faculty Members to Retire After Decades of Service

After the Spring 2014 semester, professors David Talty and Nestor Portocarrero (center) will bid farewell to the Chaplin School and enter retirement. Combined, the professors have dedicated over 50 years of teaching, mentoring, and supporting students embarking on careers in hospitality. At a quiet reception earlier this month, deans Mike Hampton (second left), Randall Upchurch (left), Mohammad Qureshi (second right), and Rocco Angelo (right) were present to acknowledge the professors' academic efforts and years of dedication to the School. David Talty has taught at FIU since 1989 and was instrumental in formulating the School's restaurant management curriculum and internship programs for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. He came to the School with extensive an resume of experience in developing and operating restaurant properties and has been a consultant to the foodservice industry. “The impact of David’s efforts is immeasurable in terms of preparing Chaplin School candidates to be critical thinkers, reflective individuals, professional in demeanor, and leaders in their own right," said Dean Randall Upchurch. Since 1981, Nestor Portocarrero has taught Accounting and Finance at FIU. During his time at the University, he has received numerous awards and honors including an award for excellence in teaching, two Teaching Incentive Program awards from the Florida Board of Regents, an award for Excellence in Service, and was recognized by alumni as the professor who contributed the most to the academic growth of students at the Chaplin School. "Nestor was also pivotal in developing the School’s student learning outcome process. The net result of his efforts is a system that helps faculty and administration track program learning outcomes which are so critical to our School in producing graduates who are ready to start their careers," said Dean Randall Upchurch. With decades [...]

Diageo Latin America & Caribbean Wins the Beacon Council’s 2014 Education Award

Earlier this month, the Beacon Council presented Diageo Latin America & Caribbean with the prestigious 2014 Beacon Award for Education at the 12th Annual Beacon Awards held at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. The organization was recognized for their transformational program Learning Skills For Life, a partnership with the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. The program offers eight free weeks of skills and job-readiness training and certification, including an internship component. Training is focused on teaching customer service skills and issuing relevant certifications, such as bartender, restaurant server, food handler, banquet setup, and guest services. FIU and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute offer the Banquet Server certification as well as the Restaurant Server certification. FIU offers the Service Excellence certificate and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association offers the ServSafe Food Handler certification. Since the partnership began in 2012, over 250 participants successfully completed the community outreach program, which also offers assistance with job placement. Jeffrey Wahl, FIU Project Manager of Learning Skills for Life, states that this transformative community outreach program not only provides participants with viable new employment skills, but upon completion of program will also have a sharpened awareness of customer service skills. “Although practical skills training and certification introduces participants to new employment opportunities, it is the emphasis on life skills and customer service skills that truly separate our candidates from other entry-level potential employees. Our graduates learn how to dress for success, how to write resumes and cover letters, practice through mock interviews with industry human resource directors, and most importantly, how to make a positive difference amongst others.” The Beacon Council is Miami-Dade County's official economic development partnership. Learn more about the Diageo LAC FIU partnership. [...]

2014 Loews Miami Beach Beach Hotel Scholars

The Chaplin School recently celebrated the Loews Miami Beach Hotel Scholars for Spring 2014 in the Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Lab during one of the School's dining events. In 2009 Loews Miami Beach Hotel established a scholarship fund to recognize outstanding students in the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, with a focus on lodging. This semester’s recipients were Liudmila Katsiak, Leah Dieffenthaller, Marrian Barreto, Alfredo Diaz, Britney Nasta, and Jose Paniagua. Pictured from left to right: Mr. Alex Tonarelli, Chaplin School alumus and General Manager of Loews Miami Beach Hotel Susana Fernandez, Regional Director of Human Resources at Loews Miami Beach Hotel Student recipients Liudmila Katsiak, Leah Dieffenthaller, and Marrian Barreto Mutlu Kucuk, Hotel Manager for Loews Miami Beach Hotel

2014 Career Portfolio Competition Winners Announced

Nine hospitality students recently had the opportunity to pitch their experience and showcase their portfolios to industry leaders at the 2014 Career Portfolio Competition. In addition to providing tangible proof of their abilities, the students were thrilled to get exposure to industry leaders and gain insight from the process. This year, three students were recognized for their impressive portfolios. Each winner received a cash prize. This year's winners were: First Place ($300) Liudmila Katsiak View Ludmila's Portfolio Second Place ($200) Gedma Estrada View Gedma's Portfolio Third Place ($100) Felipe E. Cortez View Felipe's Portfolio

Two Students Selected as Worlds Ahead Graduates

Congratulations to hospitality students Jenifer Bound (pictured left) and Gabriela Moreno (pictured right) who were both selected as FIU Worlds Ahead Graduates for Spring 2014. To be Worlds Ahead, soon-to-be graduates must be nominated by their school or college for their extraordinary achievements. This semester, the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management's Jenifer Bound and Gabriela Moreno earned their place of honor thanks to their innovative thinking and outstanding research involvement. Jenifer Bound has served as teaching assistant to several hospitality chef instructors during her time at the Chaplin School. For two years in a row, she has worked with celebrity chefs at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE. Just last year, her "Holy Smokes" spice blend was selected as a winner of the Badia Soul of Cooking Spice Contest (read more about Jenifer's spice blend win). After graduation, Jenifer plans to work as an executive/pastry chef in a restaurant where sustainability and the use of local food are a priority. She also intends to pursue a graduate degree in Public Health at FIU. With a passport filled with a lifetime of travel experiences, graduate student Gabriela Moreno wanted to study hospitality and tourism management in more depth. As a graduate research assistant under the leadership of hospitality professor and mentor Dr. Miranda Kitterlin, Gabriela collected data for research initiatives, assisted with preparations for 15 conference presentations, and helped prepare research papers for publication in four peer-reviewed journals. Kitterlin states that Gabriela's research skills are unparalleled among her peers and that she has been solely responsible for the execution of data collection for three projects. In addition, Gabriela credits mentors Dr. Sandro Formica and Dr. Dan Cormany for providing her [...]

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