Associate/Full Professor - Hospitality Management (65035)

You Belong at a University that’s Leading the Way

As a major research institution, UF is leading the way by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to solve some of the world’s most formidable challenges. Our Department embraces that innovation as we maintain a robust research agenda. Our students, faculty and staff are driving breakthroughs and discoveries to improve lives, bolster industry and create economic growth across the state.

The Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (THEM) is set apart by the opportunity for students to draw on a global perspective through programmatic offerings and in the classroom. Two thirds of the THEM faculty are international faculty, and there are currently three study abroad programs offered from the department with programs in Australia, Italy and Fiji. This international tenor within the Department fosters exceptional programming partnerships across the world in nations such as Australia, Italy, Russia, Fiji, and New Zealand. The rich cultural aspect of the department also serves as a unique opportunity for students to gain a global perspective on tourism, hospitality, and event management. Together, we are unstoppable.

The Department of Tourism Hospitality and Event Management

The Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management is situated within the College of Health and Human Performance. There are four departments in the college, including Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, Health Education and Behavior, THEM and Sport Management.

THEM faculty drive highly ranked programs, such as the Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism program which was ranked #10 in the U.S. in 2017 (Center for World University Rankings). Notable to the Department is the excellence in teaching and research, particularly in concert with graduate student success.

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute is housed within the Department and provides an internationally recognized research and education network of researchers and the tourism industry.

The Opportunity

This well-respected and dynamic nine-month tenure track or tenured associate/full professor will work closely with the Chair and faculty members and will join a department of talented faculty to execute strategic plans and develop a cutting-edge curriculum and lead internationally recognized research programs centered on hospitality analytics, crisis management, sustainability, and/or sport and event tourism at local, national, and international venues.

With creative and feasible ideas for enhancing the undergraduate experience, growing bachelor’s and master’s enrollment, and enriching the doctoral program of the hospitality management, this associate or full professor of the Department must demonstrate a commitment to scholarly excellence. Like other current THEM faculty, the new faculty is expected to actively seek sponsored research and attend to the further development of research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition, the focus on the growth of individual and group dynamics through critical thinking and experiential learning is emphasized so that students will create change in an ever-evolving industry. Graduates pursue a wide range of exciting career opportunities including travel and tourism, resorts, hotels and attractions, event management, and many other options.

Joining our team presents an opportunity to engage in projects that allow for multi-collaboration between peers and colleges as we solve cross-disciplinary problems through the advancement of research and artificial intelligence.

Department of Tourism Hospitality and Event Management is committed to enhancing and nourishing a cultural climate that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity, inclusivity, and excellence of the academic community. Find yourself here.

AI@UF

The successful candidate should possess the following skills and qualifications:

• Academic and industry experience qualifications that earn the respect of the faculty, students, and the professional staff of the Department.
• The candidate will be expected to demonstrate many, if not all, of the following qualifications and experience:
  • An earned doctorate (or terminal degree).
  • A record of scholarship befitting the leader of a distinguished college of a major university with an appointment as tenured associate or full professor
  • An exemplary record of distinction and accomplishment in hospitality, applied engineering in AI, business analytics disciplines across Departments
  • A commitment to enhancing and nourishing a cultural climate that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of the Department
  • Rich industry experiences and connections, including a record in working in the hospitality, event, tourism, or attraction industries
  • Excellent teaching and communication skills, both oral and written; outstanding listening skills; clear devotion to students and the missions of higher education
  • A seasoned scholar who displays professional integrity and collegiality.
  • A record of excellence in teaching, learning, and research; and,
  • Hospitality analytics, data science (big data) and AI applications in the discipline, hospitality management, and operation are preferred.

The University of Florida

The University of Florida is ranked #6 in public Universities in the U.S. Our campus is located “where nature and culture meet”—in the city of Gainesville, which is repeatedly cited as one of the top places to live in the U.S. The state of Florida has a dynamic hospitality and tourism industry that receives more than 100 million visitors annually.

Several qualities distinguish UF among today’s leading public research universities. The first is its highly comprehensive breadth on a single campus, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration among, for example, faculty within the adjacent colleges of journalism, business, engineering and medicine.

The second is its unwavering support from the State of Florida, which has endorsed UF’s drive to become one of the nation’s very best public research universities—supporting that effort since 2013 with hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding to grow the University’s faculty ranks. UF’s third exceptional quality is its dynamism. Like the state of Florida, now the nation’s third-largest and among its fastest-growing, UF is undergoing rapid transformation as it pursues its overarching aspiration “to be a premier university that the state, nation and world look to for leadership.”

Interested applicants must apply online at https://jobs.ufl.edu (reference job 65035) and include (1) an application letter summarizing qualifications, ongoing research, and interest in the Department of Tourism Hospitality and Event Management; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) names, addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of five references. The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue to receive applications until the position is filled; however, to receive full consideration, complete applications must be received by December 1, 2020 . Send inquiries and nominations to Dr. Heather Gibson Search Committee Chair, at hgibson@hhp.ufl.edu . This is a 9-month, fulltime (1.0 FTE) position that begins August 16, 2021. UF has a competitive benefits package, and department faculty may be eligible for summer salary.

The final candidate will be required to provide official transcripts to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/ .

The selection process will be conducted in accordance with Florida's 'Government in the Sunshine' and Public Records Laws. Call (352) 392-2HRS (2477) or the Florida Relay System at (800) 955-8771 (TDD) if a disability accommodation is needed to apply.

The University of Florida is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.