To start off 2020 with good news: Two faculty welcomed as Fellows in honorable academies

Dr. Heather Gibson and Dr. Brijesh Thapa, professors in the department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management and EFTI researchers, were recognized for their contributions to the academe during their successful careers.  

Dr. Heather Gibson was elected as new Fellow in the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (The Academy) along with other nine outstanding researchers. The international organization has the objective of enhancing theoretical and practical research in tourism, and membership to the academy is only given to highly accomplished tourism researchers from all over the world, with a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds. The Academy elects its fellows “on the basis of their scholarly achievements and contributions to our understanding of tourism.” With official headquarters in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the non-profit corporation has two main goals: “(a) encouraging the application of tourism research findings and (b) advancing the international diffusion and exchange of knowledge about tourism.” 

Dr. Brijesh Thapa has been elected as a fellow into The Academy of Leisure Sciences (TALS) in recognition for his “contributions to the leisure sciences field over an extensive timeframe” during his career. Founded in 1980, TALS holds as its purpose “the intellectual advancement of leisure sciences.” Fellows are outstanding scholars elected through a rigorous process within the academy to carry the purpose, based on at least ten years of demonstrated competence in quality and quantity of scholarly literature contributions, leadership and participation in professional associations, and outstanding performance as professional in the field of leisure. The academy
fulfills its purpose through having interested individuals becoming members by joining the network as well as inducting outstanding scholars as Fellows, promoting means to exchanging of knowledge and ideas through meetings and scholarships, and promotes the scholarly study of leisure by activities of committees, members, and Fellows.  

The Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management are proud of our outstanding researchers for their work not just for the University of Florida but also for the whole field of leisure studies and tourism. #ExpertInsights