Ruth Ann Jackson, Director-Hospitality Leadership Institute
Instructor, School of Hospitality Management
My name is Ruth Ann Jackson. For the last 18 years I have been on the faculty of the School of Hospitality Management located in Mateer Building on the University Park Campus of Penn State University. In this capacity, I serve as both an administrator and instructor.
My Teaching philosophy and approach are driven by two key beliefs: Students learn quantitative skills best thru repetition and practice and students remember quantitative and qualitative skills by linking them to practical, real world applications.
In my lesson plans you will find ample time built in the lectures to practice word problems, MS Office applications, and case studies, similar to how we would approach industry professionals in the classroom. Through the significant experience I’ve gained working with industry, I can build a strong case for the importance of principles taught in the class-room for the students long-tern career success. I find that I am able to stimulate much discussion around the practical applications of material and it serves to create a very encouraging and engaged atmosphere. I am enthusiastic about the content, even if they aren’t, and work very hard to motivate the students’ engagement. I am available to discuss issues with students outside of class and enjoy the mentoring process. I also like to learn from my colleagues and often seek their advice on best ways to facilitate in the undergraduate arena.
Administratively, I serve as the Director, Hospitality Leadership Institute. The HLI provides educational programs and services aligned with its partner organizations competitive priorities. My Primary responsibilities are to: create educational partnerships with those organizations seeking to create competitive advantage through service quality leadership, operations management, and a customer-driven workforce; design and deliver programs for commercial, government and military organizations, professional associations and service organizations, to enhance their employees’ abilities to support the strategic direction of their respective entities; financial oversight of more than $1MM in contracts; and, coordinate faculty and staff support of over 15 weeks professional development program delivery to more than 450 participants per year.
I have a B.S. in Finance from the Smeal College and my MBA is from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. That said, I have left the state of Pennsylvania on occasion for work and pleasure. My travels have taken me all over the Far-East, South East Asia, India and Europe. Argentina and Brazil are on the to-do list. I love the beach, good food and wine, all kinds of music, my dogs, and my family.
My Teaching philosophy and approach are driven by two key beliefs: Students learn quantitative skills best thru repetition and practice and students remember quantitative and qualitative skills by linking them to practical, real world applications.
In my lesson plans you will find ample time built in the lectures to practice word problems, MS Office applications, and case studies, similar to how we would approach industry professionals in the classroom. Through the significant experience I’ve gained working with industry, I can build a strong case for the importance of principles taught in the class-room for the students long-tern career success. I find that I am able to stimulate much discussion around the practical applications of material and it serves to create a very encouraging and engaged atmosphere. I am enthusiastic about the content, even if they aren’t, and work very hard to motivate the students’ engagement. I am available to discuss issues with students outside of class and enjoy the mentoring process. I also like to learn from my colleagues and often seek their advice on best ways to facilitate in the undergraduate arena.
Administratively, I serve as the Director, Hospitality Leadership Institute. The HLI provides educational programs and services aligned with its partner organizations competitive priorities. My Primary responsibilities are to: create educational partnerships with those organizations seeking to create competitive advantage through service quality leadership, operations management, and a customer-driven workforce; design and deliver programs for commercial, government and military organizations, professional associations and service organizations, to enhance their employees’ abilities to support the strategic direction of their respective entities; financial oversight of more than $1MM in contracts; and, coordinate faculty and staff support of over 15 weeks professional development program delivery to more than 450 participants per year.
I have a B.S. in Finance from the Smeal College and my MBA is from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. That said, I have left the state of Pennsylvania on occasion for work and pleasure. My travels have taken me all over the Far-East, South East Asia, India and Europe. Argentina and Brazil are on the to-do list. I love the beach, good food and wine, all kinds of music, my dogs, and my family.