Director, School of Hospitality and Sport Management

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

About The Position

The University of South Florida seeks an entrepreneurial academic leader to serve as Director of the School of Hospitality and Sport Management (SHSM) at the Muma College of Business. Reporting to the Dean, the Director will lead the School’s research, teaching, and outreach across USF’s Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses and serve as a visible ambassador for the School in Tampa Bay and beyond. SHSM prepares students for leadership in hospitality, tourism, sport, and entertainment management. Launched in fall 2025, the School brought together the former School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Vinik Sport & Entertainment Management program. The Director will lead the School’s academic enterprise, advance its research and teaching, develop external relationships and resources, and support student success and workforce development. The role includes strategic planning aligned with the College’s ten-year plan, faculty and staff leadership, budget and course-scheduling oversight, program coordination, and maintenance of accreditation standards, including AACSB.

Requirements

Terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in hospitality management, sport management, or a related field.
Outstanding accomplishments in teaching, research, and engagement that meet USF standards for appointment with tenure at the associate or full professor level.

Nice To Haves

Terminal degree preferably from an AACSB-accredited institution or international equivalent.
Bold, entrepreneurial leadership and appreciation for the nuances of guiding an academic enterprise, with demonstrated vision, execution, strategic planning, and drive to build something new.
Ability to develop and lead strategic and tactical plans in collaboration with stakeholders.
Understanding of and contacts within the hospitality, tourism, sport, and entertainment industries.
Fundraising ability demonstrated by cultivating major gifts and corporate investment, and a record of building external partnerships.
Strong people-management skills, including the ability to recruit, retain, and develop outstanding faculty and staff, and evidence of sound financial and operational management.
Inclusive, collaborative, and persuasive communication skills and the ability to unite previously separate programs.

Responsibilities

Serve as a highly visible ambassador and build consequential relationships with hotel companies, professional sports franchises, venue operators, tourism organizations, developers, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, alumni, donors, and civic leaders.
Make fundraising and resource development a central responsibility by articulating the School’s vision, cultivating transformational gifts, securing corporate investment, and working with the Dean and advancement team on major fundraising initiatives.
Expand experiential learning through internships, residencies, executive-led courses, applied research, consulting projects, major-event experiences, and partnerships connected to the stadium, Uptown Landing, and the broader region.
Develop the School as a preferred talent partner for regional hospitality, tourism, sports, and entertainment industries while preparing students for national and global leadership roles.
Keep curriculum and research responsive to artificial intelligence, data analytics, customer experience, sports technology, revenue optimization, food innovation, and new models of fan and guest engagement; foster entrepreneurship.
Foster a collaborative environment within the School and across the College that supports faculty research, teaching excellence, strong advising, career outcomes, and alumni engagement.
Direct strategic planning aligned with the College’s ten-year plan; recruit, evaluate, develop, and expand faculty and staff; manage the budget and course scheduling; unite the School’s programs into a coherent portfolio; and sustain accreditation standards, including AACSB.