NEWH - Fall 2021 - 28

CONFERENCE ROUNDUP
Inaugural Diversity in Hospitality Scholarship
Recipient to be Honored at HD Expo + Conference
NEWH and the Hospitality Diversity Action Council (HDAC) have announced the recipient of the first $5,000 Diversity in
Hospitality scholarship, Leah Nganga, a PhD student in the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences Department
at Texas A&M University. With research interests in consumer behavior tourism, sustainability and environmental policy, and
destination marketing, Nganga has industry experience working for Hilton, Marriott, and Omni hotels in both Kenya and the
United States.
" My goal is to engage in high-impact research in collaboration with hospitality and tourism professionals, " says
Nganga. " Collaborative partnerships are especially crucial as the challenges the industry faces such as climate
change, diverse workplaces, and wellbeing of employees can only be achieved by working together. This will in
turn assist in my other goal of inviting students to opportunities that provide realistic and meaningful
information to industry practitioners who employ our workforce. "
Nganga is currently working on a project with her advisor on designing experiences at destinations that have
value for the visitors but also protect the social, cultural, and environmental integrity of the place. The project
has partners from public health, conservation psychologists, and industry professionals-thus creating a
platform for cultivating innovative ideas.
" Growing up in rural Kenya, I never would have imagined the opportunities I have right now, " Nganga writes.
" After my internship at the DoubleTree hotel in Pittsburgh, I got the opportunity to join the Conrad N. Hilton
College at the University of Houston for my master's program. Since I love the tourism and hospitality
industry, there was a way to engage in both research and the industry as a faculty member. I therefore decided
to pursue my doctorate so I can continue to be a resilient learner, dynamic teacher, and collaborative
colleague. This scholarship will help alleviate the hidden impacts of being an international graduate student. "
Leah Nganga, Diversity in Hospitality
scholarship recipient
Underwritten by Emerald, the Diversity in Hospitality scholarship works to encourage diversity, equity, and
inclusion in and access to the hospitality industry by supporting students who identify with underrepresented
and minority groups and are interested in careers in the industry.
Nganga will be honored at the NEWH Young Entrepreneurs Breakfast, sponsored by Hospitality Design
magazine, during HD Expo + Conference at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The NEWH Young Entrepreneurs Breakfast
Wednesday, August 25th, 8:30-9:45 AM
South Pacific Ballroom E
Join NEWH and Hospitality Design as some of HD's past Wave of the Future honorees-those who are young enough to be considered visionary but
tested enough to be considered accomplished-talk trends, lessons learned, industry challenges and solutions, and what's on the boards in an informal,
yet engaging conversation.
PANELISTS:
Moderator: Stacy Shoemaker
Rauen, Editor in Chief, Hospitality
Design magazine, SVP, Design
Group, Emerald
Julien Albertini, Managing
Partner | Design + Construction,
Asthetíque
Matthew Goodrich, Principal,
Goodrich
Emily Keip, Vice President
Americas Design Services,
Hyatt
Paris Swann, AVP,
Architectural Design,
Celebrity Cruises & TUI Cruises
The Young Entrepreneurs Breakfast is a ticketed event. More information and
registration are available at hdexpo.com.
28 newh.org

http://www.hdexpo.com http://www.newh.org

NEWH - Fall 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - Fall 2021