Hospitality Leadership at ECU

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Hospitality Leadership at ECU

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The School of Hospitality Leadership at East Carolina University is the largest hospitality business program in the UNC system.

10/30/2026

🎃 A SHL Visit with a Side of Halloween Safety! 🎃

We loved welcoming the FBLA students from Wayne Preparatory Academy to ECU’s School of Hospitality Leadership on Wednesday! 💜💛

These students came ready with great questions as they explored campus and learned more about ECU. During their visit, they also learned about the Halloween safety activities taking place across Main Campus, connecting their campus experience with the importance of staying safe during Halloween celebrations. 👻

A special shoutout to Mr. Fisher for bringing such a wonderful group of students to visit! We enjoyed having you all on campus and sharing a little Pirate pride along the way. 🏴‍☠️

ECU College of Business

10/29/2026

🍍💜💛 TWO SPEAKERS, DOUBLE THE INDUSTRY INSIGHT! 💛💜🍍

Last week, Dr. Mel Weber brought not one, but TWO industry professionals into the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership classroom to share their expertise with our students! ✨

We’re back with the second half of our two-for-one speaker spotlight with Rachael McGinnis, Director of National Accounts for Salamander Middleburg, Va. 🌿

Located in Virginia’s horse and w**e country, Salamander Middleburg spans more than 340 acres and delivers an exceptional luxury resort experience. The property is home to a Forbes Five-Star hotel and restaurant, along with the only Forbes Five-Star spa in Virginia. From its renowned spa to outdoor adventures and nearby w**eries, Salamander showcases the many ways hospitality brings together service, experiences and destination appeal. 🧖‍♀️🍇

We’re grateful to industry professionals like Rachael for sharing their knowledge and helping our students connect what they learn in the classroom to the possibilities waiting for them in the hospitality industry. 🌎

A big thank-you to Dr. Mel Weber for bringing these industry connections directly to our students! 💜💛

ECU College of Business

10/28/2026

🍍💜💛 TWO SPEAKERS, DOUBLE THE INDUSTRY INSIGHT! 💛💜🍍

Last week, Dr. Mel Weber brought not one, but TWO industry professionals into the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership classroom to share their expertise with our students! ✨

We’re kicking things off with Part 1 featuring a leader from one of North Carolina’s premier luxury hospitality destinations, Maddy Mize, Senior Sales Manager, The Umstead Hotel and Spa. 💆‍♀️🌿

As the only Forbes Five-Star Hotel in North Carolina, The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary sets the standard for luxury hospitality. With its lakeside setting, art-filled interiors, exceptional dining and award-winning spa, it offers a firsthand look at the level of service and attention to detail that define an extraordinary guest experience. 🛁🤍

Having industry professionals like Maddy connect with our students gives future hospitality leaders valuable insight into the careers, skills and opportunities waiting for them beyond the classroom. And that’s what hospitality education is all about! 🌎

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our two-for-one speaker spotlight! 👀💜💛

ECU College of Business

10/27/2026

📸💜 Business Leadership Conference: Take Two! 💛📸

Yes, we already posted about the ECU Business Leadership Conference, but when you get a new angle, and our students are looking this good, we had to share another one! 😉

The conference brought together students from across the ECU College of Business for a day of learning, networking and career inspiration. We were especially proud to see our School of Hospitality Leadership students in the mix and to hear from hospitality industry speaker Rachel Whitten of Visit Greenville, NC!

From making connections to exploring what’s next, these students are building their futures, and we love seeing SHL represented along the way! 🍍

ECU College of Business

10/26/2026

🌐 Research Without Boundaries! 🌐

A big shoutout to Dr. Jalayer (Jolly) Khalilzadeh, Associate Professor in ECU’s School of Hospitality Leadership, for presenting at the COB-CET Research Collaboration Symposium! 👏

His presentation, “Networks Without Wires: Complex Systems Research in Abstract Graphs, and Where It Goes Next,” explored how network science can help us better understand complex systems across tourism, organizational resilience, infrastructure networks, finance and supply chains.

From hospitality to global systems, this research shows how looking at the connections can open the door to new questions, new perspectives and new opportunities for collaboration. 💜💛

ECU College of Business

10/25/2026

💜💛 SHL ADVISORY BOARD + A TASTE OF JAMAICA! 💛💜

Friday was a great day at the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership! Our advisory board came together for some fantastic conversations, updates on where we are today, and discussions about what’s ahead for SHL. We’re grateful for the industry insight, collaboration and continued support that help move our program forward! 🤝🏴‍☠️

And we couldn’t let the day end without kicking off our Fall Luncheon Series! 🌴 Our students pulled out all the stops with a Jamaican feast featuring incredible dishes, amazing flavors and beautiful tablescapes. From the food to the presentation, they showed off the talent and creativity that make SHL special! 🍽️✨

🎟️ Haven’t purchased your tickets yet? Most of the fall luncheons have already sold out, but there may still be one or two tickets up for grabs! Head to our website and check out the SHL Events tab to see if you can snag a spot. 👀

Trust us, you don’t want to miss what our students serve up next! 💜💛

ECU College of Business

10/25/2026

🏴‍☠️💜💛 TODAY IS THE DAY! 💛💜🏴‍☠️

Today is your last chance to apply to East Carolina University without paying the application fee! If ECU is on your list, don’t miss this opportunity. ⏳

And if you’re looking for a program where your college experience can lead to a career with endless possibilities, take a look at the School of Hospitality Leadership. ✨

Whether your interests are Food & Beverage, Lodging, or Special Events & Conventions, SHL gives you the opportunity to learn, connect and prepare for a career in one of the world’s largest industries. 🌎

Start here. Go anywhere. And it all starts with that application. 🚀

📅 TODAY: Oct. 25
⏰ Apply by 5 p.m.
💻 Apply through CFNC.org

Don’t put it off. Get your application in and take the first step toward becoming part of Pirate Nation and ECU SHL! 🏴‍☠️✨

ECU College of Business

10/24/2026

🏆 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Cynthia Deale! 🏆

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Dr. Cynthia Deale of ECU’s School of Hospitality Leadership, who has been recognized by the Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism as its most prolific researcher over the past 24 years! With the highest number of publications during this period, Dr. Deale’s research contributions are an accomplishment worth celebrating. 🎉

At SHL, our faculty and staff bring more than industry knowledge and expertise to the classroom. They are dedicated to sharing that knowledge in ways that connect with students and prepare them for success. Dr. Deale embodies that commitment, bringing the same care and dedication to her students as she does her research. She cares about more than just what students learn. She cares about who they are, how they are doing and how she can support them throughout their academic journeys. 🫶 📈

Congratulations, Dr. Deale, on this outstanding achievement! Your impact reaches far beyond your publications, and we are proud to have you as part of SHL. 💜💛

ECU College of Business

10/23/2026

🏆 ECU SHL IS RANKED NO. 2 ON FORBES LIST! 🏆

BIG news for the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership! 🎉🏴‍☠️ We’re proud to share that ECU is ranked No. 2 among online hospitality programs! 🙌

We’re honored to be recognized among the nation’s top programs, and this achievement reflects the incredible work of our faculty, the dedication of our students, and the continued support of our industry partners and SHL community! 💜💛

We’re celebrating this milestone, but you know what they say… No. 2 today. Let’s get No. 1 next year! ☝️🏴‍☠️💜💛

ECU College of Business

Address

E 5th Street
Greenville, NC
27858

Telephone

+12527371603

Website

https://business.ecu.edu/shl/

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