Candidate Bios and Platform Statements

Dr. Li-Chun Lin Associate Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University, New Jersey
Bio Dr. Li-Chun LIN is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University, New Jersey. She has taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses, specializing in Lodging Management, Human Resource Management, and Interna-tional Experience (MBA). Her research interests include hospitality and tourism education, travel behaviors, tourism impacts, and teaching case studies. Beyond con-ducting her own research, she is also a reviewer for serval major research journals. Recently, she has been appointed as the Interim Executive Editor of Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Cases.

Li-Chun received her doctoral degree from Kansas State University and her master’s degree from Purdue University, both in the hospitality and tourism management program. Her first tenure-track appointment was at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Since joining Montclair State University, Li-Chun has been very involved in the creation and deve-lopment of the Hospitality Management program, when she served as the program coordinator (2002-2011) and eventually took on the role of Department Chair of Mana-gement, Feliciano School of Business (2011-2019). During her tenure as the Department Chair of Management, Li-Chun more than doubled the undergraduate student enrollments, increased student co-op opportunities and scholarship offerings, and led the creations of two Graduate Certificate Programs.
Platform Statement I attended my first International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) conference in 1998 in Cleveland Ohio, when I was a doctoral student at Kansas State University. I enjoyed my first ISTTE conference so much that I decided to continue attending the annual conference for several years. I have developed a passion for the development of Hospitality and Tourism education in numerous ways through her dedication to furthering the program for students and faculty alike. During my tenure as the Department Chair of Management, I have doubled the undergraduate student enrollments, increased student co-op opportunities and scholarship offerings, and led the creations of two Graduate Certificate Programs – Project Management and Human Resource Management.
If elected, I will make contributions to ISTTE in the areas of promoting membership and teaching innovation. Furthermore, I will focus on program development, teaching workshops, the virtual executive speaker series, and global collaboration.
Dr. Miranda Kitterlin-Lynch Associate Professor in the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University
Dr. Miranda Kitterlin-Lynch is an Associate Professor in the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University. She received her doctoral degree in Hospitality Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is a Past President of the SECSA Federation of the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE), the current ICHRIE Director of Member Services and Development, as well as the Associate Editor for the International Hospitality Review. In 2017, Dr. Kitterlin-Lynch received the FIU Faculty Senate Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Kitterlin-Lynch is a Coca Cola Endowed Professor, the recipient of international and domestic Best Paper awards, and has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, and trade/industry publications. She has also edited a textbook in her area of specialty, and given a number of media interviews.
Platform Statement Since 2015 I have held various positions within professional organizations, and believe I have made positive contributions each term. I am willing to work hard and strive to make meaningful contributions to the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE), sourcing from my research skills and professional network/reputation. Hospitality, travel and tourism is a strong passion for me, and I am dedicated to the success of any initiatives or organizations that promote the success of this field of study. An “an international organization of over 150 educators in travel, tourism, and related fields representing all levels of educational institutions, ranging from professional schools and high schools to four-year colleges and graduate degree granting universities,” I believe that ISTTE is an organization that should receive full support and buy-in, as it has the potential to make substantial positive impacts on our students, faculty, and industry as a whole. I am honored to have been nominated for this position, and thank you for your consideration!
Dr Jonathon Day Associate Professor Purdue’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Bio Dr Jonathon Day, an Associate Professor in Purdue’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, has over 25 years’ experience in tourism management. An award-winning marketer, Dr Day has worked with destinations marketing organizations in Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. In recent years, Jonathon’s work has focused sustainable tourism and responsible travel. His work focuses on how tourism can be used to not only enrich travelers but support destination communities.

Platform Statement I believe that ISTTE holds a unique and important role in the development of hospitality and tourism education. I am committed to working with the board and members of ISTTE to see the development of the organization as the peak organization addressing education of tourism and hospitality. I am particularly interested in working with members from different types of educational institutions – from traditional 4-year colleges to community college – to ensure the workforce development needs to our sector are addressed effectively.
There is a great need for an organization to support tourism and hospitality educators in their professional development. I believe that ISTTE can be at a critical means of sharing best practices in tourism and hospitality pedagogy. ISTTE has the potential to raise standards, not only for tourism and hospitality educators, but for the tourism industry itself.
This is a time of great transition – in tourism and education – and I believe that ISTTE has an important role supporting tourism educators as they navigate these changes. With this nomination I commit to contributing to help ISTTE meet these challenges and to support the organization in achieving its potential.

Dr Lisa-Mari Coughlan Senior Lecturer, Central University of Technology
Mentorship of students occurs formally and informally; spans across teaching, research, and engagement; and is critical to students of all levels. The emphasis on faculty serving as mentors has increased in academia and is often an expectation for promotion and tenure, but it is also one of the most rewarding aspects of a faculty member’s job. This session will feature tactics by which future faculty members can engage in mentorship and infuse it throughout their many responsibilities. Dr. Gordon will share some of the ways she has mentored undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of teaching, research, and engagement, and facilitate a discussion of mentorship approaches.
Dr. Susan Gordon is an Assistant Professor in the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Purdue University. She has over ten years of hospitality industry experience which includes various management positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World, and Marriott International. Dr. Gordon’s research area is primarily human resources and she is particularly interested in how organizations can improve employee well-being, both emotional and physical, and increase supervisor and organizational support. Throughout her industry and academic careers, Dr. Gordon has engaged in mentorship and is passionate about this aspect of her role as a faculty member.
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