Three years ago, if you had asked the group of alumni and community members who called themselves the Hospitality and Restaurant Administration Advisory Board what they envisioned for the future of the program at Missouri State, they would have given you a specific list of very ambitious goals:

• Become a fully fledged department under the College of Natural and Applied Sciences
• Launch the department’s first fund-raising campaign
• Hire a world-class department head
• Completely revamp the curriculum to meet market demand and increase standards of academic rigor
• Increase the number of faculty with nationally recognized research credentials
• Develop a timeline for the construction of a new facility specific to HRA

Three years later, their vision is reality. “The HRA Board is a great example of committed people continuing to make a difference in the program from which they graduated. Without their vocal support and considerable energies, many of the advances made in the last three years would not have been possible.” says Melissa Dallas, department head. Brian Inman, advisory board chair and general manager at the University Plaza Hotel (John Q. Hammons’ flagship property in Springfield), echoes the sentiment. “The diversity of the board, with leaders from all aspects of the hospitality industry, helps provide objectives and broad vision to the board.” In addition to the work of the board, Inman also credits a supportive administration and a phenomenal hire as department head for the tremendous progress the board has made in such a short time.

The group boasts a membership of 18, primarily alumni of the program, and all accomplished in the field. A student representative, Matt Williams, and long-time Missouri State educator Abbe Ehlers, round out the board. Ehlers, who has served as the board’s faculty representative since its inception, shares her high esteem of the board and its members. “Having a board of advisors has been the key to the department moving forward at the rate it has. You could say it is the ‘secret ingredient’ to our success.”

In its official capacity, the board provides feedback to the department about current industry trends, curriculum and offers a network of experienced professionals for current students and graduates to draw from. In addition to advising the program, the board actively promotes a comprehensive fund-raising campaign including an annual spring golf tournament – designed to raise money for student scholarships, equipment needs and faculty professional development. For more information about the HRA program, the board, or the upcoming golf tournament, please visit www.missouristate.edu/hra or call 417-836-4409.