school of hospitality management

The mission of the School of Hospitality Management is to develop citizens of character and leaders for the global hospitality industry and to instill in them the value of civic engagement and professional development through an emphasis on experiential learning.

Ranked 16 Out of 200

Widener University's School of Hospitality Management educates leaders for the hospitality industry. Our undergraduate program is one of only 17 freestanding accredited hospitality management programs in the United States and has been ranked as 16th out of 200 programs by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education. The curriculum combines a rigorous academic program with a minimum of 1,400 hours of paid industry experience consisting of two summer internships plus a unique 15 week cooperative education semester that combines leadership development seminars with work experience.

Students have the option of participating in the unique Global Leadership Program, which consists of an international study experience, or six-week summer academic program abroad, fulfillment of the modern language requirement at the intermediate level or higher, selection of an International Relations course as a Social Science elective, plus a choice of extra curricular activities. The program is designed to better prepare hospitality management students to be international leaders in the global economy.

Professional Development & Experiential Learning

Students gain international experience, as well as the opportunity to travel throughout the United States for industry conferences. For example, sixteen students from the Widener chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)  attended the national conference in Toronto.  Two students were awarded the association's most prestigious scholarships and the Widener chapter was recognized as Chapter of the Year.

Student members of the Widener chapter of the Club Managers Association of America traveled to the annual student conference in Chicago where they explored management issues and career opportunities.  

Jillian Panzone ('09), Joshua Minton ('09), and Associate Professor, Connie Holt, with support from the Banfi Foundation, spent part of their summer in Italy where they studied the cuisine and wines of Tuscany. The nine-day trip included tours of the vineyards and winery at Castello Banfi, as well as visits to Milan, Sierra, Montalcino, and Rome.

Theresa Bova completed her cooperative education semester at the Union League of Philadelphia where she was manager in training.  Her prior experience included positions in the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, Aramark and Saucon Valley Country Club.  Theresa has been an active member of Habitat for Humanity and the Professional Convention Management Association. 

She has participated in the alternative spring break programs helping to build houses for the homeless in Arizona, South Carolina, Louisiana and Texas. Theresa was given the 2009 Student of the Year Award by the Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association. Upon graduation Theresa will begin her management career with Aramark.

Kirstan West has served as president of the Widener Chapter of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality and treasurer of the Gospel Choir. Her industry experiences include internships at the Hershey Lodge and Oriole Park at Camden Yards and a cooperative education semester with Aramark at the Wachovia Center.  Kirstan has been recognized as a future industry leader by the Women's Food Service Leadership Forum at the association¡¦s national conference.

Kevin Muldoon has been the captain of the Widener University swim team as well as the university water polo club.  He was named Middle Atlantic Conference Athletic Scholar and was an Academic Honors student.  Kevin has had internship experience at the Torresdale Frankford Country Club and the Radley Run Country Club.  His cooperative education semester was at Bryn Mawr Terrace.

   

School of
Hospitality Management
Academic Center North

Widener University
One Place University
Chester, PA 19013
tel: 610-499-1101
fax: 610-499-1106

  Nicholas J. Hadgis Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
tel: 610-499-1103
njhadgis@widener.edu
Office: Academic Center North