Hospitality Leadership

National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH)

NSMH is the premier professional organization for minority hospitality students. We address diversity and multiculturalism, as well as the career development of our student members. We feel that these lessons are important to the future leaders of the industry and that anyone of any ethnicity, gender, or other demographic group can find value in our organization.

We provide events and programs that bring together college-level students with company sponsors, industry representatives, other hospitality organizations, mentors, and hospitality high school students. Our programs include a career development component, service projects, and fundraisers.

Our Mission is to provide educational opportunities that aid in the recruitment, retention, support, and advancement of minority students in the hospitality industry. Kim Vass is the student officer for NSMH and may be contacted at vassk08@students.ecu.edu . The faculty advisor is Dr. DeChabert-Rios.


Eta Sigma Delta (ESD)

The ECU HMGT Chapter of Eta Sigma Delta, the International Hospitality Management Honor Society, stands for excellence, leadership, creativity, service, and ethics. Individual members pledge to uphold and value in their professional lives. HMGT students and faculty advisors, Drs. Alleah Crawford and Cynthia Deale organized the chapter. To qualify, a student must have completed fifty percent of the credit hours required for the major, have officially declared as a hospitality management major and excelled academically. Kira Short is the president of ESD and may be contacted at shortk09@students.ecu.edu. The faculty advisors are Dr. Cynthia Deale and Dr. Alleah Crawford.

Pirate Planners

Pirate Planners is a new student organization designed to meet the needs of students studying the area of meetings, events, and conventions. Membership is open to any ECU student. Pirate Planners will provide insights and links to industry including three national organizations: Meeting Planners International, Professional Convention Management Association and Destination Marketing Association International. Michelle Kibby is the student officer for Pirate Planners and may be contacted at kibbym09@students.ecu.edu. The faculty advisor is Dr. George Fenich.