L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Impact Report FY24-25
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Dear Donor,
Thanks to your support, this past year has been flled with inspiration. Our students and faculty have met the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry with adaptability and ambition—embracing innovation, striving for excellence, and building meaningful connections with our partners and community.
What I fnd most rewarding is seeing our students grow into leaders through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world experiences. Our faculty’s dedication to student success and industry relevance sets us apart, ensuring that we not only prepare graduates for the future but also help shape it.
Looking ahead, we anticipate signifcant advances in sustainable tourism, AI integration in service, and expanded global partnerships. Our students and faculty are engaged in exciting research and projects— from hospitality technology and wellness tourism to socially responsible business practices.
Donor support empowers our students to pursue their passions and make a lasting impact in the world of hospitality and tourism. Thank you for being part of our journey
Carl Winston, MPS Founding Director
L.Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward
Lamke
Family Student Experience Fund
The Lamke Family Student Experience Fund honors HTM Emeritus Professor Gene Lamke’s 58-year career at SDSU.
This fund supports student experiential learning opportunities, including travel to industry conferences, trade shows, educational events, and other professional experiences, assisting students in gaining the knowledge and experience necessary to be career-ready upon graduation.
Emeritus Professor Gene Lamke
Thriving in the Aztec Experience
Chloe Rogers, Class of 2025
Class Level: Undergraduate Student
College: Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Major: Hospitality and Tourism Management
Chloe Rogers will work at Four Seasons in Minneapolis upon graduation! This path blends her love for event planning with her passion for hotels and creating unforgettable experiences.
While at SDSU, she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega, served on the board of MESA (Meetings and Events Student Association), participated in the Intramural Volleyball League, and was selected as a fnalist in the She Has a Deal early careerist program, focused on empowering women in hotel ownership and development.
Within her feld, she has worked and interned at numerous companies.
“I quickly realized that building authentic relationships is what earns you trust—not your age, title, or background,” Rogers said.
She highlighted Dr. Mark Testa, whose mentorship, infuence, and teaching have helped propel Rogers toward a successful future in hospitality. “The HTM program encourages involvement and pushes students to step outside their comfort zones early on—something that has prepared me in countless ways for life after college,” she said.
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The HTM program encourages involvement and pushes students to step outside their comfort zones early on—something that has prepared me in countless ways for life after college. – Chloe
Emma Jeanette Dewan, Class of 2025
Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Major: Recreation and Tourism Management
At SDSU, Emma Jeanette Dewan completed several internships related to surfng and sustainability. She hopes to become a sustainability consultant or director for a surf or luxury resort.
During her time at SDSU, Dewan completed three internships with STOKE Certifed as a sustainability consultant. She worked at surf resorts in Fiji and the Gold Coast in Australia and with Conservation International’s Surf Conservation Program. She also participated in the SDSU Center for Surf Research, Lodging Management Student Association, National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, and Sustainable Tourism Coalition.
“My classes broadened my understanding of the tourism industry, the impact of tourists globally, and furthered my passion for pursuing a career in this feld with a specifc interest in cultural sustainability to help preserve Indigenous cultures,” she said.
Dewan shared that Dr. Jess Ponting’s video on the school website convinced her to commit to SDSU. Ponting eventually ofered Dewan her frst internship with STOKE in Fiji.
“I am forever grateful that Jess took a chance on me during freshman year. I wouldn’t be where I am without him!” Dewan said.
My classes broadened my understanding of the tourism industry and the impact of tourists globally and furthered my passion for pursuing a career in this feld...– Emma
Renee Agsten, Class of 2025 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Major: Meeting and Event Management
Renee Agsten already has nearly four years of experience in the music industry.
Her fnal Organizational Change Project proposed enhancements—both structural and service-oriented—to improve the customer experience at popular music venues. “The primary objective is to encourage leadership to adopt a more attendee-centric approach when planning events and to recommend actionable changes for implementation within the next year,” Agsten said.
She shared that the past two years have challenged her to think more critically and holistically and to adopt a stronger leadership mindset. “SDSU has equipped me with strategic tools and frameworks that extend beyond practical work experience, positioning me to elevate my career to the next level,” Agsten said.
“SDSU has equipped me with strategic tools and frameworks that extend beyond practical work experience, positioning me to elevate my career to the next level. – Renee
Celebrating Shared Success
Recent Rankings
Our master’s program is nationally ranked the third-best hospitality and tourism graduate program.
Statistics of Interest
Emphasizing its business-focused curriculum, the program requires students to complete 1,000 hours of hospitality-related professional experience before graduation.
Approximately 99% of graduates receive job ofers or enter management training programs upon completing the HTM degree.
Students can focus on areas such as hotel operations and management, meetings and events operations and management, restaurant operations and management, or tribal gaming operations and management.
SDSU enrolls approximately 36,572 students, including 32,064 undergraduates and 4,508 graduate students. Additionally, 23 students recently earned master’s degrees in hospitality, positioning SDSU as the 15th most popular institution for hospitality master’s degree candidates nationwide.
The school also houses the Center for Hospitality and Tourism Research, which is dedicated to enhancing professional skills through executive development, research, and curriculum innovation.
Recent Highlights
New Degree Programs and Emphases
Bachelor of Science in Recreation & Tourism Management (RTM), featuring three emphasis areas: Sustainable Tourism Management, Outdoor Resource Management, and Recreation Systems Management
This program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in various sectors of the recreation and tourism industry.
Certifcate in Cultural Tourism & Tribal Enterprises
In partnership with the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), SDSU ofers an online certifcate program focusing on cultural tourism and tribal enterprises. Led by Dr. Eric S. Trevan, the program provides Native tourism planners with tools to balance cultural preservation, economic development, and tourism.
Our master’s program is nationally ranked the third-best hospitality and tourism graduate program.
Faculty Achievements
Katherine Spilde, Ph.D.
Title: Professor
College: Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Achievement: Dr. Katherine Spilde is a leading authority on government-owned casino gambling models, with extensive research and practical experience in American Indian economic development and Tribal Government Gaming in the United States.
With a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology and an M.B.A. in entrepreneurial management, she has presented her public policy and economic development research to multiple international audiences, including those in Japan, Macau, Hong Kong, Finland, Canada, France, Russia, and Portugal. She has also testifed before the U.S. Congress four times on diverse issues such as tribal land claims, federal recognition of tribal governments, and tribal economic development.
Dr. Spilde's initial work on national-level gambling policy was as a staf writer for the National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC), a federal body that produced a comprehensive analysis of U.S. gambling policy for Congress and President Clinton in 1999. After creating the National Indian Gaming Library and Resource Center in Washington, D.C., she served as a Senior Research Associate at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where she helped incorporate tribal gambling into the school’s systematic investigation of economic development in Indian Country.
In 2008, she was named the Endowed Chair of the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming in the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she serves as a professor. Dr. Spilde also serves as the faculty advisor for the Sycuan Institute Tribal Student Gaming Association (TGSA). In 2017, TGSA received the NIGA Chairman's Leadership Award.
Dr. Spilde has received numerous awards for her work in the gaming industry. In 2012, she was presented with the Chairman’s Leadership Award by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), an honor she also received in 2008. In 2010, she was named one of “Twenty-Five People to Watch in the Gaming Industry” by Global Gaming Business magazine. In 2007, she was named one of ten “Great Women of Gaming” by Casino Executive magazine, and in 2003, she was honored as one of the “Top 10 People in Gaming Under 40” by Global Gaming Business magazine.
Faculty Achievements
Alana Dillette, Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
College: Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Achievement: Dr. Alana Dillette is an associate professor in the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University. With a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in tourism, her research explores the intersection of race, gender, and identity within the travel industry.
Dr. Dillette is particularly known for her work on Black travel movements, cultural tourism, and the experiences of underrepresented groups in hospitality and tourism. Her research has been published in leading academic journals, including Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, and the Journal of Travel Research. Additionally, Dr. Dillette has contributed to mainstream travel media, including AFAR Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, and Essence.
In addition to her research, Dr. Dillette is a dedicated educator, teaching courses on recreation and tourism, hospitality leadership, and diversity in the hospitality industry. She is actively involved in community engagement and serves as a co-founder of CODE – Collaborating on Dialogue and Equity. She also serves on the board of the San Diego Tourism Foundation and is co-director of Tourism RESET, a collaborative of scholars focused on race, ethnicity, and social equity in tourism. Dr. Dillette’s work bridges academia and industry, making her a respected voice in advancing equity and inclusion in hospitality and tourism.
Areas of Specialization: Racial Justice & Equity, Sustainability, Enslavement & Heritage Tourism, Black Travel, Critical Race Theory, Endarkened Storywork.
Selected Publications:
Dillette, A., Benjamin, S., & Alderman, D. (2024). Traveling to escape, resist, and belong: Centering Black experiences within tourism scholarship. Tourism Geographies, 26(1), 1–12.
Ponting, S., & Dillette, A. (2023). Emotional labour and fuctuating researcher identities. Hospitality & Society, 13(1).
Benjamin, S., Dillette, A., & Robinson, E. (2022). Black travel is not a monolith Tourism Geographies, 1–19.
