SDSU Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism

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SDSU Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism The most personalized school of its kind in developing hospitality and tourism leaders. Academia + Industry = Dynamic Partnerships and Jobs for Graduates

10/08/2026

Come along with Estefi as she shares a day in the life as a KOA Campground Management Intern! ⛺️

Apply today to get internships just like this at the Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism: https://admissions.sdsu.edu/apply

Calling all Payne School Alumni! Our 25th Anniversary Alumni Weekend is coming up on October 23rd–25th! Registration is ...
10/07/2026

Calling all Payne School Alumni! Our 25th Anniversary Alumni Weekend is coming up on October 23rd–25th! Registration is now open until October 15th, sign up here: https://luma.com/sdsupayneschool25th. We can't wait to see you there! ❤️ 🖤

Tag a Payne School alum to help us spread the word, and turn on post notifications so you do not miss any Alumni Weekend updates!

🌟 Payne School Alumni Spotlight: Lori Pugh, Class of 2020As we celebrate 25 Years, 25 Stories, we’re highlighting alumni...
10/03/2026

🌟 Payne School Alumni Spotlight: Lori Pugh, Class of 2020

As we celebrate 25 Years, 25 Stories, we’re highlighting alumni whose experiences show the many ways the Payne School continues to shape leaders across hospitality, tourism, recreation and events.

This week, meet Lori Pugh, a 2020 graduate of our Master’s in Meeting and Event Management program and current Vice President, MPI Academy at Meeting Professionals International.

Lori says the program helped her develop a deeper understanding of her own leadership style, communication and impact on others. That personal growth ultimately helped open professional doors, including earning a Director level position and later returning to MPI as Vice President of MPI Academy.

Looking to the future, Lori hopes the Payne School continues strengthening its connection with industry while preparing students to become innovative, adaptable and people centered leaders.

Her message for the next generation is a powerful one: believe you can lead the future of hospitality, not just participate in it.

We are proud to celebrate Lori and the impact our alumni continue to make across the industry. ❤️🖤

10/01/2026

the average camera roll of an SDSU Payne School student 📸😎

Thank you to the leaders from the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), San Diego FC (SDFC), and SeaWorld San Diego for vi...
10/01/2026

Thank you to the leaders from the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), San Diego FC (SDFC), and SeaWorld San Diego for visiting the Payne School this week!

Our students enjoyed lunch with their teams and had the chance to ask questions and hear about their career paths. They also joined and spoke in two of our classes, bringing real-world insight straight into the classroom. Experiences like these are invaluable as our students prepare for their futures in the industry.

We would like to extend a thank you to Daniel Kuperschmid and Theresa Cunningham of SDTA, Jen Bower of SDFC, and Tyler Carter of SeaWorld. We are grateful for your partnership and your continued investment in the next generation of hospitality leaders.

As we finish up Masters Program on Campus Week and welcome a new cohort of graduate students to the Payne School, we’re ...
09/26/2026

As we finish up Masters Program on Campus Week and welcome a new cohort of graduate students to the Payne School, we’re excited to spotlight an alumnus who has experienced the Payne School at both the undergraduate and graduate level!

Meet Adam Edelman, Class of 2011 & 2015. 🎓

Adam earned his BS in Hospitality & Tourism Management – Hotel Operations & Management before returning to earn his MS in Hospitality & Tourism Management. Today, he is the General Manager of The Shay, part of Destination by Hyatt, in Culver City.

Adam shared that one of the moments he truly recognized the value of his education came shortly after graduation, when he realized the broad business foundation he gained at the Payne School had prepared him to understand and contribute in ways he hadn’t fully appreciated while still a student.

Now, 15 years after earning his undergraduate degree, those lessons continue to influence the way he leads—particularly the idea that exceptional guest experiences begin with taking care of the people who create them.

As our newest graduate students begin their own Payne School experience, we’re proud to share stories like Adam’s and celebrate where that education can take them.

We were honored to host leaders from Four Seasons on campus this week! The Four Seasons team joined two lectures, hosted...
09/24/2026

We were honored to host leaders from Four Seasons on campus this week! The Four Seasons team joined two lectures, hosted a panel session, and connected with students over lunch. Their visit gave our students an inside look at career pathways, industry trends, and the standards of excellence that define luxury hospitality.

Their expertise and engagement provided a meaningful real-world perspective for our future hospitality professionals.

Thank you, Four Seasons, for your partnership and your continued investment in developing the next generation of leaders in hospitality.

We're proud to spotlight Jennifer Minzey (Senior Meeting Planner, Kaiser Permanente) and Stephen LaRue (Aquatics Program...
09/22/2026

We're proud to spotlight Jennifer Minzey (Senior Meeting Planner, Kaiser Permanente) and Stephen LaRue (Aquatics Program Director, City of Santa Monica), both starting our Meeting & Event Management (MEM) master's program this fall.

On a recent episode of the Bollota-Fide podcast, Jennifer and Stephen opened up about what led them back to school, how they're balancing full-time careers with graduate coursework, their thoughts on AI's role (and limits) in professional writing, and the unexpected paths that brought them to this point in their careers.

Tune in to hear their stories and get a glimpse of what the MEM experience is really like from the student side. Listen here: https://youtu.be/q83Kmt_86vo?si=0mXlcvKdJcF4C2sU

09/22/2026

Discover where SDSU's Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management could take you!

This week’s Payne School Alumni Spotlight features Cassandra Spackey (Rogers), Class of 2014! Cassandra graduated from t...
09/17/2026

This week’s Payne School Alumni Spotlight features Cassandra Spackey (Rogers), Class of 2014!

Cassandra graduated from the Hospitality & Tourism Management program with an emphasis in Meetings and Events and is now a Senior Talent Acquisition Manager with Sodexo Live!

When Cassandra looks back at her time in the Payne School, it’s the relationships that stand out most. A connection she made through the program ultimately helped lead her to the career she has today, while friendships she made as a student became lifelong ones — including women who later stood beside her at her wedding.

Her #1 piece of advice is one worth remembering: network, make connections and stay connected.

Cassandra is also planning to attend our 25th Anniversary Alumni Weekend, October 23–25, and we would love to see even more of her classmates there!

🎉 Registration is now LIVE. Join us for a weekend of reconnecting, celebrating and making new Payne School memories. Be sure to register for the events you’d like to attend!

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5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA
92182

Telephone

+16195944964

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