(August 20, 2019) Boston, MA – Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) Dean Arun Upneja, PhD, has named Leora Halpern Lanz, ISHC, as Program Chair of the School’s Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH), and Dr. Suzanne Markham Bagnera as Chair of the School’s undergraduate program. According to Dean Upneja, PhD., “With the championing of these two experienced professionals, our goal is to further elevate the successful curricula and industry integration of our renowned School.”
Leora Halpern Lanz, ISHC, who has for the last four years also served as Marketing Lecturer at the undergraduate and graduate levels, teaching the Advanced Strategic Marketing and Digital Marketing Classes for the School of Hospitality, will oversee the recruitment of students, offerings of programs and concentrations, and industry outreach, among other MMH responsibilities. Additionally, she is the Coordinating Chair of the School of Hospitality’s Leadership Summit, an event which connects the graduate and undergraduate student bodies with regional and national industry executives to learn from among the (female) C-Suite and Senior Level directors of lodging, restaurants, meeting planning and tourism.
Leora has been an active leader and participant in the field of hospitality branding since 1985, and always strives to stay at the forefront of strategic marketing and communications. In February 2017, she was named one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales and Marketing in the Americas by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). In November 2017, she was accepted into the International Society of Hospitality Executives (ISHC). Also in 2017, she was awarded Professor of the Year by the Student Government of the School of Hospitality Administration at Boston University. In 2010, she was recognized by her peers when she was named Hospitality Sales & Marketing Executive of the Year by the Greater New York (Big Apple) Chapter of HSMAI.
Leora is principal of LHL Communications, a hospitality-focused marketing communications and branding consultancy. Prior to establishing LHL in April 2014, she worked for 15 years as the Global Director of Marketing & Communications for HVS, the leading international hospitality consulting and services firm. For nine years prior, she was Director of Public Relations and Advertising for the ITT Sheraton Hotels of New York and for five years before that she served as Director of Public Relations for the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
She is an active member of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and also serves as co-faculty advisor for its Boston University student chapter, as well as for the business school fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and Master’s from Boston University. Her articles have been reprinted in dozens of industry publications.
Dr. Suzanne Markham Bagnera is Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Hospitality and also most recently served as Undergraduate Program Coordinator. She started in the hospitality industry working at Louie’s Shore Restaurant in New York. She has held positions as General Manager at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Staybridge Suites, and Holiday Inn Express. She has been an adjunct instructor and Assistant Professor for various Hospitality Management programs at several colleges throughout New England, and has also taught classes for the Massachusetts Lodging Association (MLA).
Suzanne is also a member of the International Council of Hotel, Restaurant, & Institutional Education (I-CHRIE) and serves as Immediate Past President for the North East North American (NENA) Federation. She is the Social Media Coordinator for the International Hospitality Information and Technology Association (IHITA). She serves as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology and for multiple special interest groups for the I-CHRIE annual conference. In addition, she is a reviewer for the annual Hospitality Graduate Conference.
Each year, she also serves as the Event Manager for the Restaurant Service aspect of the State of Massachusetts SkillsUSA competition, and she is the faculty advisor for the AH&LA student chapter. She oversees all clubs and activities in SHA while also advising the SHA Student Government and the Eta Sigma Delta honor society.
Suzanne holds numerous certifications in hospitality training: Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) and ServSafe. She earned her M.B.A. in Management and B.S. in Hotel/Restaurant Management from Johnson & Wales University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with membership into the Eta Sigma Delta honor society. In October 2016, she received her doctorate from Iowa State University in Hospitality Management.
