Kevin Ayres began his career with Marriott, managing airport food service operations in Las Vegas and Cleveland before being brought to Columbia to oversee concessions operations at Williams-Brice Stadium and the Carolina Coliseum for the University of South Carolina. In addition to owning State Street Snacks for 20 years he has worked on multiple projects for The Masters’ golf tournament concessions for the last 15 tournaments.
Estefania Basurto serves as research assistant professor in The Richardson Family SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development. In addition, she serves as the Destination Management Team Leader for the center.
Jessica Pack Chavis earned her master's degree from the University of South Carolina and her bachelor of science in business administration from Winthrop University. Prior to coming to USC, Chavis worked as food and beverage director at the Forest Lake Club, clubhouse manager at Columbia Country Club, assistant manager at DeBordieu Club and food and beverage service manager at Benvenue Country Club.
Carol Como, an alumnus of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina, serves as the Interim Internship Director as well as an instructor for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Prior to her career in academia, she spent 15-plus years in the hospitality and tourism industry. Her time included supervisory and management roles in theme parks, restaurants, country clubs, catering and most recently private events.
Robin B. DiPietro serves as director of the International Institute for Foodservice Research and Education and professor. She has also served as director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. DiPietro received her B.S., M.B.A., and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to her work at the University of South Carolina, DiPietro worked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, at the University of Central Florida.
Edward Dramberger, with over 40 years of experience in global hospitality and tourism, has demonstrated leadership and innovation in destination marketing and sales training. As the founder of Destination Dr., he has significantly impacted the industry, combining hands-on travel experience with strategic insights. His work in curriculum design and professional training has furthered his role as an academic and consultant, adept in developing engaging, technology-enhanced learning experiences for diverse audiences.
Emilio Guerra joined the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina in January 2020 as an adjunct instructor and has been teaching Wines and Spirits in Food Service Establishments (HTMT 475) since then. Guerra was asked to join the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management on a full-time basis prior to the 2024-25 academic year and is currently the director of the Beverage Education Lab in the Close-Hipp building.
A native of Gaffney, S.C., Dr. Rich Harrill is an accomplished center director with a strong record of success and an international reputation as an expert in tourism, urban planning, and economic development with the University of South Carolina (2005-Present) and Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (2001-2005). He is a research professor and senior director of USC’s International Tourism Research Institute (2005-Present) and was acting school director of USC's School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (2012-2016). In 2018, he was named College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management Global Scholar of the Year.
George M. Hendry is a seasoned culinary professional and dedicated educator with over 40 years of experience. He is a Certified Executive Chef and Certified Culinary Educator. Hendry’s formal training started at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, followed by building a successful career as a chef and restaurateur. He owned and managed multiple food establishments, including Sombrero's Restaurant and Sub Alert, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.
Simon Hudson received his Master of Business Administration from the California State University and his doctoral degree in consumer behavior from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. Hudson is an internationally recognized tourism expert who has written books on tourism marketing, golf tourism, the international ski industry, sports and adventure tourism, and customer service.
Walter Jackson is a production chef for the McCutchen House in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. In this role, his duties include teaching the management side of quantity food production, working with students on food preparation, kitchen safety and basic culinary knowledge.
Miyoung Jeong, Ph.D., joined the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina in August, 2015, as an associate professor. In January of 2018, Jeong was named professor. Prior to coming to the School of HTMT, Jeong was on the faculty of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Department in the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she served as a Ph.D. coordinator.
Keyara Kaiser, a native of Los Angeles, joined the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management as a program coordinator for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in July 2024. Kaiser is an accomplished executive search professional with over a decade of experience in recruitment, office management and hospitality. She has built a strong career supporting and coordinating executive-level talent acquisition across various industries.
Kawon (Kathy) Kim is an associate professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. Prior to coming to USC, Kim served as an instructor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2016-2017). Her duties there included teaching food service management and special event management. Kim has also served as a consultant and project manager with Be My Guest, a restaurant consulting company (2012-2013).
A South Carolina native, Darron Kirkley has been involved in the hospitality and tourism industry since the age of 18 when he was hired as the director of the Pageland Watermelon Festival. Since that time, he served as the tourism director for Kershaw County and as a high school hospitality teacher in Kershaw, S.C. Kirkley joined USC in fall 2023 after eight years as a hospitality and tourism management instructor at Central High School in Pageland.
A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, William Knapp has been working in the foodservice industry for more than 25 years in management positions, both front and back of house. Emphasizing his skills in the kitchen, Knapp has been the executive chef at a number of hotels, free-standing restaurants, and private clubs along the eastern shore.
Christopher Knezevich has 15 years of restaurant and bar management experience. Prior to this, Knezevich spent five years in the banking industry, serving in a wide array of positions from teller to manager, to investigating money laundering and fraud. Passionate about higher education, he has been working as an instructor for the past three years. Knezevich began at USC Sumter as a recruiter and advisor for Palmetto College, then became director of continuing education.
Marketa Kubickova is an associate professor and interim faculty director of international affairs at the University of South Carolina School of Hospitality and Tourism Management where she has worked since 2014. She obtained her doctoral degree from the University of Central Florida. Prior to that, Kubickova received her Bachelor of Science from the University of New Orleans and her Master of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University.
Robert "Robby" Lybrand has more than 22 years of experience in the restaurant and foodservice industry. During that time he has held many positions such as executive chef, restaurant owner, catering director and food and beverage director. Lybrand has also worked in several different sectors of the foodservice and hospitality industry, including private clubs, corporate restaurants, private restaurants, as well as a corporate theme park restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, in Walt Disney World.
Drew Martin, Ph.D., serves as professor for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina. Drew Martin received his Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, and his MBA and B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. He has served as interim dean for the College of Business and Economics, University of Hawaii, Hilo, from 2004-16, and from 2016-17.
Fang Meng is a professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina. She received her Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and her M.S. and B.S. from Beijing International Studies University.
Brian J. Mihalik is a professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and in the Department of Sport and Entertainment Management. Mihalik is also the former dean of the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina. Mihalik received his doctorate of education from Temple University, and two M.S. degrees with an undergraduate degree in business administration from Syracuse University.
Since 2005, Becky Moran has served as program manager for McCutchen House, the student-operated learning lab and restaurant in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. In that capacity, Moran is responsible for the planning and promotion of McCutchen House events which include luncheons, private meetings, graduation ceremonies, special dinners, parties and receptions, in addition to the restaurant's daily operations.
Haemoon Oh serves as professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. Oh brings with him years of outstanding academic and administrative experiences. Oh also served as dean of the college from 2015-2020. Prior to joining the College of HRSM as dean, Oh served as head of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass).
Charles G. Partlow has more than 40 years of experience in hospitality management, consulting and education. Partlow came to University of South Carolina as director of graduate studies in 1990 and served two consecutive terms as director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management from 2004 to 2010.
Over the past 21 years, Lori Pennington-Gray has held a variety of positions at the University of Florida, including leading large funded research projects, guiding Ph.D. dissertations and curriculum changes and serving as director of three research centers.
Georgia Petritsis has been a valued member of the college since 2012, bringing a wealth of experience in project management, operations and event planning. With a background at the New York Philharmonic and the New York Botanical Garden, she excels at executing complex projects, optimizing workflows and enhancing processes. She is known for her strong business acumen, communication skills and ability to manage resources efficiently while anticipating challenges.
Isaac D. Pressley Jr. is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in hospitality management, culinary arts and human resources who joined the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina as an executive in residence for community engagement in August 2024. Pressley Jr.'s educational foundation equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the hospitality industry, enabling him to excel in various roles throughout his career.
Ashley Richardson serves as internship director and clinical instructor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Richardson joined the staff at the University of South Carolina in July 2015 as the administrative coordinator for the Department of Retailing where she was responsible for administering the academic and financial operations for the department and also served as an instructor for University 101 Programs.
After graduation from the University of Central Florida, Scott Smith began his professional career with Marriott Hotels and held various positions in their hotel and resort division throughout the United States. Prior to his academic career, Smith also worked for Sheraton Hotels, Rosen Hotels, Walt Disney World, and Hilton Hotels in various management positions before returning to graduate school and completing his studies at the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
Sandy K. Strick, a graduate of Purdue University, has been on the faculty of the School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of South Carolina for more than 20 years and took over as interim director for the school in July 2024. Strick has previous experience leading the school having been its chair for five years. She teaches Wine and Spirits, Meeting Planning and Multicultural Human Resources courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She also serves as director of the Wine and Beverage Institute at USC.
Scott Taylor, Jr., Ph.D., an alumnus of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina, works as an assistant professor in HTMT as well as serving as the Wine & Beverage Institute assistant director, Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management program director, and associate director for the International Institute for Foodservice Research and Education. Before returning to South Carolina, he worked at the Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston.
Ercan (Sirakaya) Turk received his doctor and master of science from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. Turk is the 2006–2007 recipient of the U.S. State Department's prestigious Fulbright scholarship to teach tourism and conduct destination development and branding studies in Russia. Before joining the University of South Carolina, Turk was a faculty member at Texas A&M University (1998-2006) and Pennsylvania State University (1996-1998).