Online Master’s of Science in Tourism & Hospitality Management
Adjunct Faculty
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
Ph.D. University of South Carolina
M.P.S. Cornell University
B.A. Bennington College
Professor Deborah Breiter Terry has spent a lifetime in the hospitality and event industries, either as a practitioner or educator. She started out in the restaurant business and then moved into the world of hotels. She eventually became the general manager of a boutique hotel in San Francisco. Then she was recruited by City College of San Francisco to teach in their Hotel & Restaurant Management program.
Adjunct Faculty
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
Ph.D. University of Florida
M.B.A. University of Florida
B.S. B.A. University of Florida
Sean is a dynamic academic and professional specializing in data analytics, sport management, marketing, consumer behavior and consumer psychology. With a doctorate in Health and Human Performance from the University of Florida, Sean’s research focuses on cutting-edge topics such as practical applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in sports, sport communication, and consumer behavior.
Adjunct Faculty
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
Address: PO Box 117001, Gainesville, FL 32611
Mobile phone: (845)220-8284
Dr. Gary Deel is an accomplished polymath with a talent for higher education and a drive for intellectual challenge.
With respect to education, Gary holds AS Degrees in Hospitality and Culinary Arts from Valencia College, AS, BS, and MS Degrees in Space Studies from American Public University (APUS), BS and MS Degrees in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida (UCF), a JD in Law from Florida A&M University (FAMU), and a PhD in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). He is currently pursuing a BA Degree in Psychology from APUS.
Chair, Professor
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
Director, Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute
Office: FLG 242
P.O. Box 118209
Gainesville, FL 32611-8209
Phone: (352) 294-1694
Ph.D. North Carolina State University
M.S. North Carolina State University
B.A. National Cheng-Chi University, Taiwan
Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu has many years of experience in the tourism and hospitality business. Rachel is the Chair and Professor of the Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management (THEM) at the University of Florida, where she is also the Director of the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute (EFTI).
Rachel was the founding Director (2010-2018) of the Center for Sustainable Business and Development (CSBD) that provided a mechanism for building an interdisciplinary research program that combines business and sustainability science at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (UTK), where she was also a Professor in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management. Rachel was named as TnHTA Educator of the Year (Stars of the Industry Awards) for her excellence in research and development of workforce for the industry and was honored at the 2019 Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism.
Adjunct Faculty
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
Phone: (407)-501-4291
B.S. in Hospitality Management, New Hampshire College
J.D. in Law, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School
John is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ICON Park, a $300 million dollar, 20-acre, walkable entertainment destination in the heart of Orlando’s International Drive. Named #1 Attraction in Orlando for families by USA Today, and one of 7 Best Attractions in Orlando by Forbes Magazine. ICON Park has more than 50 restaurants, bars, shops, and attractions including The Wheel which is the tallest observation wheel on the east coast of the United States.
John’s previous hospitality experience includes executive leadership experience with Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Hyatt Residence Club, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.
While working for these world-class brands, John demonstrated a proven ability to coach and develop successful teams. He is also skilled at formulating business plans, establishing a proactive approach to growing market share, improving metrics, and leading projects to completion.
Lecturer, Internship Coordinator
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
Office: FLG 190A
P.O. Box 118208, Gainesville, FL 32611-8208
Phone: (352) 303-9452
B.S. in Business, Phoenix University
A.A.S. in Hotel & Restaurant Management, Luzerne County Community College
Ron Gromoll is a dedicated educator who has been teaching college-level hospitality courses since 1996. He has been a Certified Hotel Administrator from the American Hotel and Lodging Association since 1990 and a Certified Hotel Educator from the American Hotel and Lodging Association since 2000.
For over 30 years, Gromoll served as the general manager of four hotels, including the Intercontinental Hotel Group, Best Western International Inc., Choice Hotels, and LaQuinta Inns and Suites. He is currently the marketing and event coordinator for Alachua County and is assisting with plans for the new multi-purpose Event and Expo Hall for Alachua County.
Adjunct Faculty
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
M.S. Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue University, Krannert Scholar honors
B.S. University of Central Florida, Magna Cum Laude
Joe Norsworthy is a former executive at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. In his last role at Disney, Joe was Vice President of Strategy and Planning, and his work included developing and enhancing strategy for destinations in Florida, California, and Asia. Prior to leading this strategy group, Joe held executive positions in finance, destination marketing, brand management, pricing, and travel operations/reservations. Joe was also a founding executive of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online (WDPRO), a new team he and another executive proposed that integrated all Internet strategy, development, and operations across the entire parks division.
After leaving Disney, Joe became a real estate entrepreneur, originally focusing on new developments in southeast Florida. Once other real estate investors became aware of his background, Joe became an independent strategy consultant, helping both developers and landowners in the Caribbean, the USA, and Mexico formulate realistic development strategies for their properties. Eventually, his consulting engagements expanded beyond real estate; Joe led business strategy overhauls for a professional sports franchise, a troubled U.S. destination resort, and a hotel-focused REIT.
Adjunct Professor
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
B.S. in Recreation, Parks, & Tourism, University of Florida
Bob Schalow is a restaurant executive whose most recent role was serving as the Vice President of Franchise Operations for Jack in the Box Restaurants. In this role, Schalow oversaw a division of approximately 1,000 restaurants with sales exceeding a billion dollars. Schalow graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism in 1994 and joined Taco Bell/Yum Brands as a restaurant manager before being promoted into numerous leadership roles overseeing both field and support center operations in multiple regions across the country. Schalow then became the Senior Director of National Franchise Operations for Einstein Bros. Bagels and Bruegger’s Bagels while also holding the position of Brand Leader for the Manhattan Bagel Company. Besides his restaurant industry experience, Schalow has also served as President and Board Member for the Owl Creek Country Club as well as being a Board Director for the Louisville Library Foundation.
Assistant Provost, Instructor
Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
B.S. Florida State University
M.S. Florida International University
Professor Nico Rose is a leader in hospitality education and training, known for a proven track record of integrating innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence, into diverse industry sectors. As Assistant Provost for Teaching and Technology at the University of Florida, Nico spearheads transformative initiatives that elevate academic and professional programs, focusing on the design and implementation of AI-driven training and development solutions.