Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Dr. Kurt Stahura named dean of NU's College of Hospitality & Tourism Management

by jmaloni

Submitted

Tue, Apr 7th 2015 03:45 pm

Dr. Kurt A. Stahura has been appointed dean of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Niagara University, effective June 1.

Stahura succeeds Dr. Gary D. Praetzel, who retired last May after 35 years at Niagara, including 13 as dean of its world-renowned College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. (Praetzel continues serving the university as a special assistant to the president and provost.)

Stahura comes to Niagara after serving as managing director for UNLV-Singapore, which is part of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He has served in administrative roles as assistant dean, program director and director for student and academic affairs.

"I am honored to succeed Dr. Praetzel. He has established Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management as one of the very best in the world," Stahura said. "I hope to continue his standards of excellence in teaching, research and service, all of which support quality student experiences and preparation for entry into the global marketplace."

As dean, Stahura will be responsible for shepherding the growth and continuing academic excellence of NU's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the first in the world to offer a bachelor's degree in tourism. He also will be involved with the Niagara Global Tourism Institute.

"We are very pleased to identify an individual who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to a position that is critical to Niagara University and the Western New York region," said Dr. Timothy Downs, provost. "Dr. Stahura will help Niagara to continue to leverage its position as one of the top institutions in the world, one that effectively prepares its graduates for the global marketplace."

As a scholar and tenured faculty member at UNLV, Stahura taught courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level in organizational behavior, research methods, human resources, diversity, leadership and intercultural communication. He has conducted research on a variety of cultural and social trends in leisure, hospitality, tourism and sport.

Stahura has served as a journal editor and been on a number of editorial boards. He has chaired more than 50 dissertations, master's theses and interdisciplinary honors projects. He has published more than 40 articles in regional, national and international journals and has authored 130-plus presentations and conference keynote speeches.

Stahura has been involved extensively in executive education. His scholarly pursuits and consulting expertise have brought him to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Greece and Turkey, and all over the U.S. He has provided consulting assistance on issues surrounding program development, organizational structuring and communication facilitation.

After completing undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Stahura earned his M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with high honors.

Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management presently offers undergraduate programs in hospitality, including hotel, restaurant, food service and club management; tourism and recreation management; and sport management. A master's program in sport management was introduced in the fall of 2013. In addition, there are four custom-designed international programs, including work abroad n Lake Como, Italy, and a dual degree program in Germany.

To learn more, call 716-286-8279 or visit www.niagara.edu/hospitality.

Hometown News

View All News