MTSU Tourism, Hospitality Management professor Whalen wins triple honors in 2025

Elizabeth Whalen, director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., holds her Industry Educator of the Year Award presented to her by the Tennessee Hospitality Tourism Association during the annual Stars of the Industry Awards held in September at the Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism in Kingsport, Tenn. (Submitted photo)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University Tourism and Hospitality Management program director Elizabeth Whalen has become a tour de force with three career-topping honors this year for her industry leadership.

Whalen received Industry Educator of the Year Award in July from the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association, which moved her forward as a nominee for the statewide award from the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association.

She was presented with the award at the state level during the annual Stars of the Industry Awards held in September at the Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism in Kingsport.

“It was a huge honor, but more than anything, it shows that industry leaders are genuinely excited about what we’re building at MTSU,” said Whalen, who took the helm of the program in 2019.

The Industry Educator of the Year award recognizes an educator teaching hospitality, tourism or culinary arts curriculum who demonstrates commitment to their students.

Elizabeth Whalen, director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management, or THM, program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was presented the Industry Educator of the Year Award from the Greater Nashville Tourism Association at the annual meeting and banquet in July. Pictured are, from left, Michael Sanders, vice president of hotel operations for Chartwell Hospitality; Chelsa Lourie, director of workforce development with the Tennessee Hospitality Tourism Association; Whalen, holding her award; and Jesse Hayes, director of revenue management at Gaylord Opryland. All are members of MTSU’s THM Advisory Board. (Submitted photo)

‘Huge impact’ on tourism industry

“She’s had such an incredible year and continues to make a huge impact on hospitality education and workforce development across Tennessee,” said Chelsa Lourie, director of Workforce Development at the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association, who nominated Whalen for the award.

With Music City just 30 miles up the road, the proximity to a booming tourism industry in Nashville is a boon for the program with “so many amazing connections,” Whalen said, paving the way for students’ success.

Five years after launching, the Tourism and Hospitality Management program became the first program in the state to earn accreditation through the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.

“She bridges education and industry in a way that creates real results. Her passion, collaboration, and follow-through make her such a standout leader, and I’m so proud to have her as a partner in this work,” Lourie said.

Whalen was also instrumental in helping secure funding for students to attend the Governor’s Conference for the second year in a row, and she has grown the Tourism and Hospitality Management Board to make sure every sector of the industry has a voice at the table, Lourie said.

“Getting an education is more than the experiences in the classroom. It is about understanding the industry community and about opening doors to opportunities for long-term, sustainable and fulfilling careers,” Whalen said. “Our goals are to provide the expertise and knowledge that comes in the classroom, in tandem with the community, network and understanding that comes in the field.”

Elizabeth Whalen, director of the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., far right, holds her Industry Educator of the Year Award presented to her by the Tennessee Hospitality Tourism Association during the annual Stars of the Industry Awards held in September at the Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism in Kingsport, Tenn. She is joined by MTSU tourism and hospitality management students, from left, Alexa Morse, LeTre Thompson and Tessa Wallace, at the conference. (Submitted photo)

Paving the way

Whalen has also stepped into leadership roles statewide. She serves on the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association Board of Directors, filling the long-vacant educator seat, and lends her expertise to the organization’s marketing committee and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s Rural Tourism Committee.

“She also joined us as a panelist at this year’s Legal and Workforce Symposium, representing MTSU and sharing her perspective on how businesses can better partner with students and universities to meet workforce needs,” Lourie explained.

In addition to the industry awards, Whalen earned international recognition from the Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism as the 2024-25 Best Reviewer Award, which spotlights outstanding contributions to peer review excellence in the field.

In the near future, an experiential learning project — an on-campus hotel — will get students hands-on with Southern hospitality within arm’s reach.

“We will continue building on this amazing foundation we started. The sky is the limit and we are just getting started,” Whalen said.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)