Dec 26, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

William F. Harrah College of Hospitality Faculty


Dean

Cardenas, David A. 

Dean; B.A., North Carolina State University; M.S., North Carolina State University; Ph.D., North Carolina State University. Rebel since 2024.

Associate Dean

Baloglu, Seyhmus 

Professor; B.S., Cukurova University; M.B.A., Hawaii Pacific University; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Rebel since 1996.

Graduate Studies

Cotrone, Finley 

Associate Professor in Residence; Director, MHA of Hospitality Administration Program; B.F.A., Missouri State University; M.S., UNLV; Ph.D., UNLV. Rebel since 2013.

McElroy, Rhonda

Assistant Dean of Student Success; B.S., University of Northern Colorado; M.S., Iowa State University. Rebel since 2019.

Ozdemir, Ozgur 

Associate Professor; B.S., Bilkent University; M.S., University of Delaware; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University. Rebel since 2017.

Shum, Cass

Associate Professor; B.B.A., Chinese University of Hong Kong; Ph.D., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Rebel since 2015.

Wrightman, Diane

Director of Graduate Programs; B.S., Grand Valley State University; M.S., Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Rebel since 2022.

Graduate Faculty

Abarbanel, Brett

Associate Professor; B.S., Brown University; M.S. and Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rebel since 2016.

Ausar, Kweisi 

Associate Professor; B.A., Duquesne University; M.B.A., Wayne State University; D.B.A., Lawrence Technological University. Rebel since 2012.

Bai, Billy 

Associate Dean of Research; Professor; B.A., Nankai University; M.Phil., Hong Kong Polytechnic University; M.S., Ph.D., Purdue University. Rebel since 2001.

Baloglu, Seyhmus 

Professor; B.S., Cukurova University; M.B.A., Hawaii Pacific University; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Rebel since 1996.

Barnes, Roberta 

Asociate Professor in Residence; B.S., M.S., and Ph.D., University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Rebel since 2007.

Belarmino, Amanda

Assistant Professor; B.S., Cornell University; M.S., University of Houston; Ph.D., University of Houston

Bergman, Christine 

Professor; B.S., Loma Linda University; M.S., University of Arizona; Ph.D., Michigan State University. Rebel since 2005.

Bernhard, Bo Jason 

Vice President of Economic Development; Professor; B.A., Harvard University; Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rebel since 2002.

Book, Laura 

Assistant Professor in Residence; B.S., M.S., and Ph.D., University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Rebel since 2013.

Busser, James A.

Professor; B.A., Illinois State University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana. Rebel since 1987.

Cain, Christopher 

Director, PGA Golf Management Program; Professor in Residence; B.S., M.S., The Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rebel since 2004.

Cardenas, David A. 

Dean; B.A., North Carolina State University; M.S., North Carolina State University; Ph.D., North Carolina State University. Rebel since 2024.

Chen, Chih-Chien

Associate Professor; B.A., National Taiwan University; M.S., California State University; Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Rebel since 2014.

Coaley, Patty

Assistant Professor in Residence; B.A., University of Nevada Las Vegas; M.A., University of Nevada Las Vegas; Ph.D., Pepperdine University. Rebel since 2023.

Cotham, Dana

Professor in Residence; B.S., University of Nevada-Las Vegas; J.D., University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Rebel since 2009.

Cotrone, Finley 

Associate Professor in Residence; B.F.A., Missouri State University; M.S., UNLV; Ph.D., UNLV. Rebel since 2013.

Erdem, Mehmet 

Professor; B.S., M.S., Purdue University; Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rebel since 2006.

Fernades Guzzo, Renata

Assistant Professor, B.S., Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul; M.S., Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; M.S., University of Houston; Ph.D. University of Houston. Rebel since 2022.

Henthorne, Tony L.

Associate Dean of Academics; Professor; B.A., Ouachita Baptist University; M.B.A., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; Ph.D., University of Mississippi. Rebel since 2008.

Jung, Soyeon

Associate Professor; B.S., Sungkyunkwan University; M.S./MBA, University of Nevada Las Vegas; Ph.D. University of Nevada Las Vegas

Kim, Hyelin (Lina) 

Associate Professor; B.A., University of Wollongong; M.A., University of New South Wales; M.S., Kyung Hee University; Ph.D., Virginia Tech. Rebel since 2015.

Kim, Jungsun (Sunny) 

Associate Professor; B.A., Kyung Hee University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Nevada Las Vegas. Rebel since 2012.

Kim, Yen-Soon 

Associate Professor; B.S., M.S., Soonchunhyang University; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University. Rebel since 2005.

Lee, Samuel 

Associate Professor in Residence; B.S., The University of British Columbia; M.S., University of Nevada Las Vegas; Ph.D., University of Nevada Las Vegas. Rebel since 2023.

Lema, Joseph 

Professor; B.S., University of Alberta; M.S. and Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi. Rebel since 2020.

Lucas, Anthony 

Professor; B.S., Ball State University; M.B.A., Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rebel since 2001.

Ma, Zihui (Ma) 

Associate Professor in Residence; B.S., Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications; M.S., Virginia Tech; Ph.D., Washington State University.

Montgomery, Rhonda

Associate Professor; B.S., M.S., Purdue University; Ph.D., University of South Carolina. Rebel since 1995.

Ozdemir, Ozgur 

Associate Professor; B.S., Bilkent University; M.S., University of Delaware; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University. Rebel since 2017.

Raab, Carola 

Professor; B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rebel since 2003.

Sammons, Gail 

Professor; B.S., North Dakota State University; M.S., University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University. Rebel since 1996.

Shoemaker, Stowe

Dean; Professor; B.S., University of Vermont; M.S., University of Massachusetts; Ph.D., Cornell University. Rebel since 2012.

Shum, Cass

Associate Professor; B.B.A., Chinese University of Hong Kong; Ph.D., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Rebel since 2015.

Soligo, Marta 

Assistant Professor; B.A., Universita degli Studi di Bergamo, M.A., Universita degli Studi di Bergamo; Ph.D., University of Nevada Las Vegas. Rebel since 2023.

Singh, Ashok (A.K.) 

Professor; B.S., M.S., Lucknow University; Ph.D., Purdue University. Rebel since 1991.

Werner, William B.

Associate Professor; B.A., Ohio State University; J.D., University of Cincinnati. Rebel since 2001.

Deans and Professors Emeriti

Abbey, James R.

Emeritus Professor; B.A., M.B.A., Michigan State University; Ph.D., Utah State University. UNLV Emeritus 1973-2000.

Borsenik, Frank D.

Emeritus Professor; B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Michigan State University. UNLV Emeritus 1975-1994.

Eade, Vincent

Emeritus Professor; B.A., M.A., Bonaventure. UNLV Emeritus 1986-2015.

Goodwin, John R.

Emeritus Associate Professor; B.A., Michigan State University; M.A., Pepperdine University; D.B.A., United States International University. UNLV Emeritus 1980-1993.

Gu, Zheng

Emeritus Professor; B.S., Hangzhou University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Central Florida. UNLV Emeritus 1991.

Mann, Stuart H.

Emeritus Dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration; B.S., University of Illinois; M.S., Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University. UNLV Emeritus 1998-2011.

Mayer, Karl

Emeritus Professor; B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison; M.S., Columbia University; M.B.A. Harvard University; Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas. UNLV Emeritus 2001-2013.

McCool, Audrey

Emeritus Professor; B.S., M.A., University of Illinois, Urbana; Ed.D., Texas Tech University. UNLV Emeritus 1990.

Metcalf, Lyell E.

Emeritus Associate Professor; B.S., B.A., M.A., University of Arizona; C.P.A., California. UNLV Emeritus 1970-1994.

Stefanelli, John

Emeritus Professor; B.S., University of Illinois; M.B.A., Michigan State University; Ph.D., University of Denver. UNLV Emeritus 1978 - present.

Tanford, Sarah

Emeritus Professor; B.A., Northwestern University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rebel since 2008

Vallen, Jerome J.

Emeritus Dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration and Professor; B.S., Ph.D., Cornell University; M.Ed., St. Lawrence University. UNLV Emeritus 1967-1998.

Woods, Robert N.

Emeritus Professor; B.S., University of Oklahoma; M.S., Ph.D., Cornell University. Rebel since 2000.