Ms. Agnes DeFranco

Her interests in teaching excellence and improvements are evident in her early research work. These interests won her a teaching excellence award at the Conrad N. Hilton College in 1995, the Enron Teaching Excellence Award for the University of Houston in 1996, and the Outstanding Faculty Award granting by the Houston Alumni Association in 1999. She is also a Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive and a Certified Hospitality Educator Cadre member, working and consulting with the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association to foster the importance of teaching excellence.

In 1997, she was also recognized with the Dean's Award for Excellence in Applied Research, and the Best paper Award at the 1997 Annual International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE) Annual Convention and Exposition. She has also been a recipient of the University of Houston Dean of Students EXCEL Outstanding Mentor Award, the Conrad N. Hilton College Alumni Association's Distinguished Young Alumna Award, and the H.J. Heinz Graduate Fellowship granted by the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association, among others.

Dr. DeFranco is active in a number of local, state, and national organizations. She currently serves as a Director on the board of the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, and board members at various advisory boards of community colleges, school districts, and local and state lodging associations. She is also active with the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education in their Finance Committee and Future Funds Committee and the American Hotel & Lodging Association at the national level serving on the Certification Commission of the Educational Institute and the Human Resources and Diversity Council. Her research areas are hospitality finance, cost control, accounting, and cultural and diversity issues.

She can be reached at adefranco@uh.edu