04/27/2026
On April 9th, The George Washington University School of Business (GWSB) welcomed special guests, friends and family, alumni, and current students for “In Honor of Don Hawkins: The Distinguished Lecture & MSTHEM Alumni Awards” - a special evening of remembrance, celebration, and continued purpose.
As founder of both the Master of Science in Tourism Hospitality and Event Management (MSTHEM) program and the International Institute of Tourism Studies at George Washington University (IITS), Professor Donald E. Hawkins’ influence on tourism policy, education, and global practice is hard to overstate. He helped shape generations of tourism leaders, destinations, institutions, and ideas - always with the belief that tourism should serve people, protect place, and create long-term value. Dr. Hawkins has earned the UN Tourism Ulysses Prize and served as the first vice president of UN Tourism's Board of Affiliate Members.
A highlight of the evening was the inaugural Don Hawkins Distinguished Lecture, delivered by The Honorable Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, who honored Don’s role in Jamaica’s tourism development and called him a “national hero of tourism.”
A tribute video was produced especially for this event, and can be watched here: https://lnkd.in/giCV3a7w
The MSTHEM Alumni Awards honored three of Professor Hawkin’s former students and mentees whose work carries on his legacy and reflects his values: Kristin Lamoureux, MTA '98 (Alumni Award for Social Impact), Shaun Mann, MTA '05 (Alumni Award for Industry Leadership), and Joe Goldblatt, MTA '94 (Alumni Advocacy Award).
The life and work of Casey Canevari, MTA '22, who tragically passed away last year, was also honored.
The evening also featured meaningful announcements to carry Don's legacy forward, including both the Don Hawkins Special Recognition Scholarships and the Don Hawkins Sustainable Tourism Passport, a living digital tribute inviting alumni, colleagues, students, and friends to share memories and stories from around the world, which can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/g5wG-g7m (while visiting the site, please consider making a donation there to support his legacy: https://lnkd.in/ghCyVRbh)
Thank you to the Hawkins and Canevari families, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Dr. Sevin Yeltekin (Dean of GWSB), Dr. Christopher Kayes (Chair of GWSB Department of Management), the MSTHEM faculty and student/alumni community, the MSTHEM alumni honorees, special guests, and all attendees for a special evening that truly honored and celebrated the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. Donald E. Hawkins and his enduring contributions to tourism policy, education, and global practice.
