Purdue Northwest names new leader of hospitality school
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Purdue University Northwest has named a new leader of the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Kwangsoo Park has been selected to serve as associate dean and director of the school within Purdue Northwest’s College of Business. Park began his new role Tuesday.
“Dr. Park brings a strong track record of building community and enhancing quality programs,” Purdue Northwest Business Dean Rachel Clapp-Smith said in a news release. “He is the ideal steward of the generous support of White Lodging and will continue to grow quality programs that prepare students for fulfilling careers in the hospitality industry.”
Park has leadership experience within the hospitality education field. He previously served as head of North Dakota State University’s Apparel, Merchandising, Interior Design, and Hospitality Management department for four years. Before that, Park was the program coordinator for Tourism and Hospitality Management at Black Hills State University.
He earned a doctorate in business administration with a focus in tourism from Temple University and also has a master’s degree in hospitality management from Florida International University. Park earned his undergraduate degree from Sejong University in Seoul, South Korea and has research interests in disability inclusion and quality of life in hospitality and event management.
“I am incredibly excited about the journey ahead and the opportunity to broaden my capacity even further,” Park said. “I will continue to operate with open and honest communication, advocate for the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and wholeheartedly support our students, faculty and staff in the PNW College of Business.”
Park is president of the Korea-America Hospitality and Tourism Educators Association and is an associate editor of the Hospitality and Tourism in the Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal. He also serves on the advisory council for the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance.