The School of Hospitality Business

The Leader

• The School Firsts
  • The Hotel Association, a student activities club that became the forerunner of today’s Hospitality Association (1928), is founded.
  • The Kellogg Foundation grants $1.4 million for construction of the Kellogg Center for Continuing Education (1947), originally conceived as a “training ground” for students in The School of HRI.
  • The first Les Gourmets dinner dance is held in the Kellogg Center ballroom (1951).
  • An MBA with a hotel and restaurant management major is launched (1962).
  • CAREER EXPO joins students with employers (1981).
  • The Hilton Hotels Professor in Hospitality Financial Management is endowed by Hilton Hotels Corporation (1989).
  • Our Visiting Distinguished Chefs program begins (1989).
  • V-Commerce course is developed and hits the classroom (2000).
  • Master of Science in Hospitality Business degree launches (2003).
  • Graduate Specialization in Hospitality Business becomes available (2003).
  • Endowed faculty and staff award is created (2005).
  • Hospitality Business Real Estate & Development undergraduate specialization broadens perspectives (2005).
• The School Originals
  • Held up as the model for others, the Hotel Training Course launches (1927).
  • Les Gourmets gives students hands-on event and service experience (1951).
  • Students learn from the best through the famous Visiting Leaders Series (1988).
  • Hilton Lecture Series connects the academy with the industry (1990).
  • With an amazing array of services, the Student & Industry Resource Center (1991), formerly the Internship Office, forges lifelong connections among students, industry executives and hospitality corporations.
  • Dr. Lewis J. and Mrs. Ruth E. Minor endow the position of Chef de Cuisine (1992).
  • The first annual joint venture fundraising auction with students and alumni (Hospitality Association/MSU-HRIM Alumni Association Auction -1992) kicks off a fun and successful new tradition.
  • Our name changes to The School of Hospitality Business (1995).
  • Our faculty authors leading hospitality texts, respected and used by the hospitality academy and the industry
  • The Wall of Fame is established to recognize alumni (1995).
  • The all-new Michael L. Minor M.S. in Foodservice Management program is unveiled (1996).
  • The Annual Patriarchs Breakfast celebrates alumni who graduated 50 (or more) years ago (1991).
  • The National Automatic Merchandising Professor position is endowed by NAMA (1999).
  • The School becomes independent within The Eli Broad College of Business. (2001)
  • The first 75 years are beautifully chronicled in the 400-page book, The Legacy of the Leader (2002).
  • The Annual Gathering of Leaders keeps alumni connected throughout their careers-Chicago reception at NRA Show.
  • The School’s Gathering of Leaders inaugurates its recognition of the Emerging Alumnus Leader of the Year (2003).
  • Celebration of Leadership puts a spotlight on The School grads who are leading change in the industry – New York reception at IH/M&R Show.
  • Original MSU-HRIM Alumni Association launches the Spartan Sponsors Mentor Program, linking students with active industry professionals