“It makes a huge statement about the research and publication productivity of our faculty, especially considering the size of our department’s graduate faculty and who our competition is,” said Deb Canter, department head.

Graduate education and research lauded

Canter said the ranking puts the department closer to being recognized as an international pacesetter in food service and hospitality management graduate education and research.

According to Canter, the K-State ranking goes to show that a small number of focused researchers can make a big difference as many of the programs ranked ahead of K-State have more researchers and a different focus.

“I am extremely proud of the focus and productivity of our faculty,” she said. “We have 15 doctoral students, five master’s students, a new online master’s degree in dietetics and more than 500 undergraduate students. To teach, advise and mentor all these students with a small faculty and still get rated at this level for our research productivity to me is very heartwarming.”

The article, written by researchers at the University of Central Florida, includes an analysis of the scholarly contributions of researchers from each institution to 11 prominent hospitality and tourism journals from 2002 to 2006. The authors counted the number of articles, article instances and the number of contributing authors, also categorizing them by world region.

Tops in publishing

The journals surveyed were: The Annals of Tourism Research, The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, The Florida International University Hospitality Review, The International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, The International Journal of Hospitality Management, The Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, The Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, The Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, The Journal of Travel Research, The Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing and The Journal of Tourism Management.

“For several years, our faculty and graduate students have garnered numerous ‘best paper’ awards at professional conferences focused on hospitality management research,” Canter said. “We have been building our reputation for a long time. To finally see us recognized in a peer-refereed journal in this way is most gratifying.”

Virginia Moxley, dean of the College of Human Ecology, said the ranking highlights the outstanding scholarship of faculty in the department of hospitality management and dietetics.

Researchers, teachers and leaders

“We expect great things of our faculty and this ranking illustrates how they exceed our expectations,” she said. “These researchers are also fine teachers and professional leaders. The scholarly contributions represented in this body of work have advanced knowledge in hospitality and food-service management worldwide.”

Canter said one area the study didn’t take into account was her department’s research commitment to the issue of food safety.

“A major research priority for our department is in the area of food safety. We focus on challenges of safe food handling in commercial and noncommercial food-service operations where the public consumes more than half of their meals,” Canter said. “The journals that were scanned for the purpose of this article are not typically places where food safety research is published. Thus, our faculty members are even more productive than this article reveals.”

Download the article in Adobe Reader format from SAGE Publications.

Prepared by Media Relations

Edgar Chambers IV will become editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sensory Studies beginning in 2010. Currently he is co-editor. He’ll do the job for at least a year, he said.

“My responsibilities as co-editor and as editor-in-chief are to ensure that the journal remains the leading journal in sensory science, to coordinate the review of scientific articles, to ultimately accept or reject articles for publication in the journal, and to enhance the experience of readers of the journal,” he said.

Chambers is the director of K-State’s  Sensory Analysis Center and University Distinguished Professor, Sensory Analysis and Consumer Behavior, in human nutrition.

Kevin Roberts and Kevin Sauer have been named co-editors of the Journal of Foodservice Management and Education. They are assistant professors in the Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics.

They plan to update the submission process and overall systems, Sauer said.

The journal is published jointly by Foodservice Systems Management Education Council and The National Association of College & University Food Services.

The council’s mission is to advocate for foodservice and dietetic management education, research, and practice and support members in teaching and research efforts.

Walter Schumm, professor in family studies and human services, has been named editor of the Journal of Marriage and Family Review. His term as editor will be 2010 to 2014.

“I will review and obtain peer reviews for dozens of articles a year and decide which ones are the best for this journal,” he explained. The 30-year-old journal is devoted to the study of the family unit and the complex issues affecting today’s families.

Content includes “cutting-edge research, theory, and practice relevant to a wide variety of disciplines such as marriage and family studies, sociology, psychology, education, child development, social work, urban and policy studies, anthropology, public health and communication studies.”

Prepared by Human Ecology communications

She will be a full professor with tenure in the Department of Human Nutrition here.

Mason succeeds M. Duane Nellis, who left K-State in June to become president of the University of Idaho. Associate Provost Ruth Dyer has served as interim provost.

“Dr. Mason brings a wealth of experience to Kansas State, and I am very excited to have her join our leadership team,” said K-State President Kirk Schulz.

“She has been successful in teaching, research and service. She works well with faculty, students and staff members and we believe she will be an excellent provost and senior vice president for Kansas State University,” said John English, search committee chairman and dean of engineering.

Food science, nutrition professor at CSU

Mason has been dean at Colorado State since August 2004. She oversees the operations of six departments and three schools with about 100 tenure track faculty, many special appointment and adjunct faculty, 4,000 undergraduates and 850 graduate students. She also is a professor in the department of food science and human nutrition. Before joining Colorado State, Mason was associate dean for extension and associate dean for discovery and engagement in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences at Purdue University. As a faculty member in foods and nutrition at Purdue, she conducted research in the area of trace mineral availability from plant foods. She also taught in the cooperative extension program at Purdue for 20 years.

She is Colorado State’s representative to the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities’ Board on Human Sciences, where she has been on the executive committee since 2005 and board chair beginning this year.

Mason is author or co-author of 24 refereed publications, 40 published research abstracts and seven book chapters and proceedings. Her research has been supported by more than $12 million in grants in the past 10 years, and includes numerous grants from agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Research on plant-based food nutrients

Her current research focuses on the availability of key nutrients from plant based food products, which provide critical calories and essential nutrients to a large proportion of the world’s population. She also presents lectures on food safety and food security.

She is a member of numerous academic, professional and scholarly societies including Sigma Xi; American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences; Institute of Food Technologists; American Society for Nutritional Sciences; Epsilon Sigma Phi extension fraternity; and Gamma Sigma Delta.

She attended the Overseas School of Rome in Italy before going on to earn her bachelor’s degree in biology from Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio. She holds a master’s degree in plant physiology and a Ph.D. in foods and nutrition from Purdue University.

This award honors national leadership that advances the human sciences in higher education. Moxley is cited for career accomplishments that include her leadership in the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance — which, since its inception in 1994, has grown to a nationwide alliance sponsoring multi-institutional undergraduate and graduate academic programs. Moxley was a founder of the alliance and was the first chair of the Great Plains IDEA Board of Directors. She currently serves as the chair of the Great Plains cabinet, and she administers management services for the alliance.

Moxley’s work with the Great Plains IDEA supported the development of the Great Plains IDEA Model for multi-institutional academic programs which has been replicated by other higher education academic alliances. Moxley co-administers K-State’s Institute for Academic Alliances that provides consultation and management support for higher education alliances nationwide.

Prior to the publication of the 2000 Classification of Instructional Programs by the National Center for Educational Statistics, Moxley led a team of representatives from six professional associations and two federal agencies to implement a major redefinition of the fields of study within the human sciences — the first major correction in four decades.

Additionally Moxley has served as past national president of Omicron Nu Honor Society (now Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society), co-founded the Undergraduate Research Community for the Human Sciences, and helped establish a human sciences program at the National University of Paraguay. She currently serves on the APLU Board on Human Sciences and on the Advisory Panel for the Food and Agriculture Education Information System.

Prepared by K-State media relations and Human Ecology communications

The endowment was originally established in 1998 with gifts from alumni, friends, faculty and students of the College of Human Ecology to honor Barbara Stowe at her retirement.

Stowe was dean of the College of Human Ecology from 1983-1998.

Helping faculty take research to the world

The fund was created to honor her as well as recognize faculty who translate research-based knowledge of human ecology into practice in higher education, business, industry or public policy. The funding may be applied to various endeavors including administrative development, academic and curricular development, liaison projects with government or industry and other initiatives that advance the mission of the College of Human Ecology.

Dean Stowe  earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics from the University of Nebraska, a master’s degree in textiles and clothing at Michigan State University, and a doctoral degree in textile chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina State University.

Before becoming dean of the College of Human Ecology at K-State, she held department head positions at Auburn University and Michigan State University and directed Michigan 4-H Youth Programs. While at K-State, she coordinated a privately funded building program, which included the Galichia Institute for Gerontology and Family Studies and expansion of the Stone House Child Care Center. She helped develop a W. K. Kellogg Foundation-funded project that established a school of human ecology in Paraguay.

Among her many honors

Her honors include fellow of the Association of College Professors of Textiles and Clothing and being named an outstanding alumna by the University of Nebraska, Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

The Stowes met while they were graduate students at Michigan State University. Howard Stowe earned a master’s degree in animal science and doctoral degrees in veterinary medicine and pathology from Michigan State University. He has held faculty positions at the University of Kentucky, where he was instrumental in establishing what is now the Equine Science Society, North Carolina Medical School, Auburn University, and Michigan State University. At Michigan State University, he established the nutrition section of what is now the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health.

He retired in 1993 and now spends most of his time on the Stowe’s farm near East Lansing, Mich. They have a son, Bradley, who graduated from K-State, and one grandson. The Stowes are Fairchild Society level members of the KSU Foundation’s Presidents Club, a philanthropic leadership organization for K-State friends and alumni.

‘Talented faculty, hardworking students’

“My years as dean at K-State were the most rewarding of my professional career even though they involved a commuter marriage,” Stowe said. “I had the opportunity to work with some very talented and dedicated faculty, bright hardworking students and very loyal alumni. They all cared deeply about the College of Human Ecology and K-State.”

“When Barbara Stowe was dean of the College of Human Ecology, she challenged us with the question, ‘What does the world need of us?’ That question continues to guide our priority setting in the College of Human Ecology,” said Virginia Moxley, dean of the College of Human Ecology.

“This gift will assure that over time the college can support faculty development and program advancement to assure that we continue being responsive to the emerging needs of the state and the world.”

Prepared by the Kansas State University Foundation

Jessica Conrardy (foreground), Melissa Ross and Allison Pfeifer sketch at Villa Emo.

Peggy Honey has a subtle goal.

Of course, she wants her interior design students to touch Renaissance buildings, to walk through the nearly 2,000-year-old Pantheon, to stand in front of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Borghese Palace, to fall in love with the Scrovegni Chapel in Padova and the Musee des Artes Decoratif in Paris.

But most of all, the professor wants to introduce them to life-long open mindedness. She wants her students to have a positive experience so they’ll boldly hit the road again and again to absorb more culture.

Honey and professional photographer Alan Honey led a study tour of France and Italy in June. With 14 students and one mom, the interior design professor and the photographer spent two weeks sketching, walking, photographing, and studying.

Better than textbooks

For the students, textbook images came alive.

“No textbook or virtual tour can prepare you for the feeling when you enter the Pantheon; the unexpected coolness of the space that is situated in a very temperate area of the world,” said Stacy Davis, “or the amount of light that is present in buildings that were built before the invention of electric power.”

Kim Riege in the nave of Vezelay, a great Romanesque pilgrimage church.

“Being able to walk through the Roman forum and realize that Julius Caesar had walked right where you were standing was amazing!” recalled Melissa Ross.

“Something about actually standing in the structures of Italy and France and experiencing their overwhelming proportions gave a whole new meaning to the information we had learned in class,” said Lydia Travis, who made her first trip outside the United States. “I was surprised by the scale of the architecture as well as the amount of detail that went into the design and decoration of the structures and their interiors.”

Davis said she noted the similarity of building materials in one region. “It made me re-evaluate why we ship materials from far away for a building, and then insert them all over the country, creating the same sense of place in multiple areas with very different geographic contexts,” she said.

Cathedrals and country homes

Walking to the Eiffel Tower at night; touching the marble used to build St. Peter’s; admiring French country scenery; dining on Italian food; listening to monks sing their chants in a Romanesque cathedral overlooking Florence. Favorite moments seemed to encompass most of the itinerary.

The study trip solidified students’ career choices. Stacy Davis realized she wants to work in historic preservation. Melissa Ross improved sketching and photography skills, making her more well-rounded and marketable, she said.

Honey organized her first study tours in 2005. She included France because she studied there and that was “a life-changing experience.” Alan Honey is fluent in Italian.

“We don’t have a lot of truly old architecture for the students to experience in this country. In France and Italy, they can experience both architecture and history,” she said.

“I try to prepare them for the history and the culture, and to be independent travelers. They are responsible for much of their own agenda,” she added. “But universally, I have found there is no way for them to anticipate the age, beauty and cultural differences they will see.”

“It’s an awakening. They lose a little of that American egocentrism.”

Students go with “this great attitude of soaking it in,” she said.

Outside the American bubble

Honey accomplished her subtle goal this trip. Students agreed that the trip changed them.

Kaitlin Jones said she became more open to other cultures.

“The tour made me appreciate parks and public spaces more, it made me appreciate wonderful sit down meals where you can converse over good food; it also made me want to lobby for having better public transportation systems,” Davis said.

Lydia Travis agreed. “It made me realize and appreciate how diverse and unique our world is. It also made me realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things. Experiencing these cultures forced me to slow down, take in my surroundings, and pay attention to details,” she said.

Katie Hoffman made her first trip outside American borders. “I have learned to conserve space, resources, and time,” she said. “Europeans walk everywhere, they live in tiny spaces, they are completely content with it. I think we are too greedy and too lazy.”

Added Amy Boeshaar, “Seeing another culture and how other people go about their day to day life definitely opened my eyes and got me out of a bubble that I was living in.”

Honey is planning a study tour to England in 2011.

Students at Fontenay Abbey in France

Photos courtesy of Alan Honey
Prepared by Human Ecology communications

Organized by K-State’s chapter of Blue Key, the senior leadership honor society, Quest was founded in 2004. Membership is based on written applications and interviews. Leadership and service in high school are key selection factors.

Members of Quest get the opportunity to discuss important issues with university administrators and have other leadership experiences. They also get a behind-the-scenes look at some of K-State’s award-winning programs.

Prepared by K-State media relations

The Closing the Gap award goes to Denis M. Medeiros for an assessment program of assessment of student learning. The Department of Human Nutrition faculty continually revises the assessment plan. They recognized that previously planned longitudinal tracking was less than effective.

The second is for long-range assessment planning and goes to Roni Schwartz. She developed five-year student learning assessment plans to meet the new 2008 Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards.

Stand-up presentations were:

“Exploring Restaurant Managers’ Beliefs about Food Safety Training” presented by Kevin R. Roberts, on research he conducted with Betsy Barrett. Both are in Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics (HMD).

“Beliefs and Perceptions of School Foodservice Personnel about HACCP Implementation” by Lynn Riggins, University of Central Missouri. Her presentation was based on research she did here with Barrett.

Poster presentations were:

“Food Safety Practices in Ethnic Restaurants in Kansas” from Carol Shanklin, Junelee Kwon and Roberts. All are on the faculty in HMD. Shanklin is head of K-State’s graduate school.

“Multi-institutional Delivery of Internet-based Graduate Education to Dietetics Professionals” from Deb Canter, HMD department head, and faculty from other universities.

“Older Adults Technology Preferences Related to Food Safety Education” from Roberts; Valentina M. Remig, human nutrition; Toni J. Bryant, human nutrition extension; Gerry Snyder, multi-media specialist.

“Discussion Groups with Mature Adults Help Identify Food Safety Issues and Barriers” from Remig, Roberts, Bryant and Snyder.

“Food Safety Training Needs for Evacuation Shelters Operated by Faith Based Organizations” from Kwon and co-authors from Texas Women’s University, D. Ryu, L. Zottarelli and S. Kwon.

Pesci is director of K-State’s hotel and restaurant management program.

Students are invited to don their professional business attire for the workshop, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, in Derby Dining Center’s Gold Room. It is an opportunity for students to brush up on their table manners as a way to prepare for  job interviews that may be conducted over a meal or in a social setting.

Co-sponsors are K-State’s career and employment services and Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics.

The cost of the workshop is $9, or $5 for students with a K-State meal plan. Reservations and payment are due Friday, Oct. 30, and are available at career and employment services in 100 Holtz Hall or by calling 785-532-6506.