Cornell School of Hotel Administration Faculty Appointed to Endowed Professorships

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. February 05, 2010

February 5, 20010 - The Cornell University Board of Trustees has approved professorship appointments for three School of Hotel Administration (SHA) faculty members. Mike Lynn has been appointed the Burton M. Sack '61 Professor in Food and Beverage Management, Tim Hinkin has been appointed the Georges and Marian St. Laurent Professor in Applied Business Management, and Kate Walsh has been appointed the Fred G. Peelen Professor of Hospitality Global Strategy. Each of the appointments went into effect on January 1, 2010.
"Endowed professorships provide funding to faculty members who conduct research that is critical to the hospitality industry," said Michael D. Johnson, dean and E. M. Statler Professor. "I am confident that Mike, Tim, and Kate will be outstanding representatives for SHA as the Sack, St. Laurent, and Peelen Professors, respectively."

Lynn is the first faculty member to hold the Sack Professorship, which was established in 2009 with an endowment from nationally respected restaurant industry executive Burton M. "Skip" Sack, class of 1961. Lynn's primary research focus is in a food and beverage management context, and he is a recognized expert on the topic of service gratuities. In addition, he currently teaches courses in consumer behavior, marketing research, and marketing management for services. Lynn's appointment is for a five-year renewable term.

"It is an honor to be the first Sack Professor in Food and Beverage Management," said Lynn. "The funds provided by this endowment will help advance food and beverage research that is important for both the school and the industry."

The St. Laurent Professorship in Applied Business Management was established in 1979 by Georges St. Laurent, a 1933 graduate of the school, and his wife Marian. Hinkin's research focus is in supervisor-subordinate relationships, power and influence in organizations, group dynamics, and service quality. He currently teaches classes in leadership, organizational behavior, interpersonal skills, and human behavior.

Hinkin is also the primary instructor and mentor for the undergraduate Leadership Development Program and is the Richard J. and Monene P. Bradley Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). As DGS, he is responsible for academic leadership of the Master of Management in Hospitality degree program and for integrating the Singapore-based Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management student body with that of SHA. In addition to his academic experience, Hinkin has provided training and consulting for a wide range of enterprises, including IBM Corporation, Israeli Hotel Managers Association, Institute for Hotel Management, Accor of North America, and ClubCorp USA, Inc. He has been appointed to this professorship for a five-year renewable term.

The Peelen Professorship was established in 2000 with a gift from Fred Peelen, class of 1964, an international hospitality consultant and long time executive at InterContinental Hotels. It is awarded to a mid-career faculty member who has a strong interest in international business. Walsh's primary research focus is services management and the examination of the role of strategic human resources initiatives on organizational performance. In 2008, her published work was a finalist for "Best Article" in the Journal of Service Research and was awarded "Best Proceedings Paper" for the Academy of Management. She currently teaches courses in organizational behavior, interpersonal skills, training, and development. Prior to joining the SHA faculty, Walsh held positions with Nikko Hotels International, Bristol Hotels, and Loews Corporation. Walsh has been appointed to a three-year term.

About The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration
The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration is shaping the global knowledge base for hospitality management through leadership in education, research and industry advancement. The school provides management instruction in the full range of hospitality disciplines, educating the next generation of leaders in the world's largest industry. Founded in 1922 as the nation's first collegiate course of study in hospitality management, the Cornell School of Hotel Administration is recognized as the world leader in its field. For more information, visit www.hotelschool.cornell.edu.