Professor’s research earns lifetime award

After more than a decade of working in the hospitality industry, a UCF professor has earned some high recognition.

Rosen College of Hospitality Management professor Dr. H.G. Parsa was recently awarded the John Wiley & Sons Lifetime Research Achievement Award from the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education.

ICHRIE President, Susan Fournier and Dr. Dennis Reynolds presented the award to Parsa at the ICHRIE 2011 Annual Conference in Denver in front of more than 500 attendees representing more than 27 countries.

"It is an honor to receive this award and I could not have done it by myself," Parsa said. "My students, colleagues, friends and family have all helped me along the way and I am grateful for all of them and to be able to work with such great people."

The Lifetime Research Achievement Award recognizes an ICHRIE member for lifetime contributions to outstanding scholarship and research in hospitality and tourism. It is given to a distinguished member who has demonstrated high standards in the systematic and objective analysis of data that has led to the development of principles or theories resulting in a significant contribution to the body of knowledge.

Parsa has been an ICHRIE member since 1989 and has marked many milestones in the restaurant and hospitality industry, including international and national publication of more than 200 of his written papers.

"I have accomplished a lot in my years in research," Parsa said, "but the most memorable times are when I was selected as the top educator of the year in the entire state of Ohio, being named one of the top 50 researchers in the world and now receiving this lifetime research award. Each and every one of these things are special to me."

Parsa earned a Ph.D. in hospitality management, two master's degrees and a food management professional diploma.

He currently serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals and has been presented with multiple awards for his research on various topics such as: pricing strategies in food service, franchising, quick-service restaurant-chain management and many more.

"Dr. Parsa is dedicated to his research and he is certainly building recognition for his name and his works," said Jackie Toops, assistant director of public relations for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. "We, at the Rosen College, are striving to gain international recognition as a premium to study hospitality and management and Dr. Parsa and this award definitely puts us in the global arena."

Although Parsa immerses himself in his research and has been awarded for it, there is nothing he would rather be doing than teaching his students what he has learned and in return, learning from his students.

"I chose to give up a lot — a great income, great benefits and a great job in the field — to be a teacher, because I get to touch so many people's lives and make a difference in my students' lives," Parsa said. "My students mean everything to me. As I make them better students, they make me a better teacher, researcher and coach."

Parsa is extremely proud of Amy Gregory, his first doctoral student to graduate.

"I am so proud of what Amy has accomplished. It has been wonderful teaching her these past years and she is a great researcher and will certainly go far," Parsa said.

Gregory has mutual pride in Parsa, especially because of the lifetime achievement award.

"Being new to the academic circles in conferences and on campus talking with students and professors, he has a personal branding that exudes quality, and whenever I mention him, there isn't enough good things said about him," Gregory said. "This award is very well deserved and I have had the privilege of learning so much from Dr. Parsa, especially how to be a better researcher and how to make an impact."