HHP Announces 2013 International Educators of the Year

Two Tourism, Recreation and Sports Management Professors Bestowed with Honorary Award
By: Dept. of Tourism, Recreation and Sports Management
 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Nov. 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Dr. Lori Pennington-Gray (senior faculty) and Dr. Svetlana Stepchenkova (junior faculty) were recently named as the 2013 College of Health & Human Performance’s International Educators of the Year for their many contributions to the University of Florida’s international efforts.

Dr. Pennington-Gray is an Associate Professor in the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management, Associate Director of the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and Director of the Tourism Crisis Management Institute. Her research as a TRSM Professor deals with tourism planning and development from a demand and supply perspective. As the Director of the Tourism Crisis Management Institute, her research is geared more towards the industry’s planning and preparedness in case of a possible crisis. Through both of these initiatives Dr. Pennington-Gray has been able to travel around the world to conduct research as well as provide consultations to various companies. Dr. Pennington-Gray is a member of the International Ecotourism Society, Travel and Tourism Research Association, World Travel and Tourism Council, DMAI, AH&LA, and USTA.

Dr. Stepchenkova is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management and Associate Director of the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute. Her research focuses on destination management, marketing, and branding with the focus on quantitative assessment of destination image using qualitative data.  She is currently leading a three-year international project “Capacity Building Partnership to Improve Tourism Education, Research, and Industry Outreach: University of Florida, USA and the State University of Nizhni Novgorod, Russian Federation” sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2011 Svetlana joined the Editorial Review Board of Journal of Travel Research. She also serves as a reviewer for Tourism Management, Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, and Current Issues in Tourism.

Nominees for this award, given by the University of Florida International Center, are distinguished by the significance of the nominee’s accomplishments within the past five years, sustained international involvement, and international contributions in the context of at least two of the following:

·         Research: The extent to which the faculty or staff member's research made a significant contribution to his/her discipline through the creation or discovery of new knowledge and how that work involved international activities.

·         Teaching: The extent to which the faculty or staff member's teaching increased student awareness of international issues and involved them in academic activities abroad. Also, the committee will review the extent to which courses with international content (including study abroad courses) were developed by the nominee and how that affected the curriculum.

·         Service: The extent to which the international activities cited in the nomination raised UF's profile as a globally- engaged university, the benefits derived from these activities, and documented evidence of such. Significant roles in advising, mentoring, and similar service activities are included in this category as well, especially for those individuals in staff ranks.

A university-wide reception was held to recognize their efforts at the Keene Faculty Center (Dauer Hall) on Tuesday, November 19th at 3:30 p.m. during the annual celebration of International Education Week.

The Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management is committed to national and international excellence in the generation, dissemination, and communication of knowledge in tourism, recreation and sport management.  The Department is also dedicated to excellence in the preparation and training of future industry and academic professionals, and providing relevant outreach to stakeholders.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Dr. Dan Connaughton (Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs & Professor) at danc@hhp.ufl.edu (352.294.1666) or Arielle Gousse (Marketing and Public Relations) at agousse@ufl.edu  (352.392.3992).

Media Contact
Arielle Gousse
***@ufl.edu
352-392-3992
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Source:Dept. of Tourism, Recreation and Sports Management
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Location:Gainesville - Florida - United States
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