Candidacy for Director of Research

Minwoo Lee

BIOGRAPHY/BIOSKETCH

Minwoo Lee is an Associate Professor and Director of Hospitality Analytics and Innovation Lab at Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, University of Houston, and a Visiting Professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His areas of expertise are innovative technologies, digital transformation, corporate digital responsibility, persuasion and decision-making, business analytics, and machine learning.

Dr. Lee is Director of Research at ICHRIE and currently serves as a senior associate editor, associate editor, coordinating editor, guest editor, and editorial board member for leading hospitality and tourism journals. He is a founder of Workshop on Informatics, Data Science, and Economics in Hospitality and Tourism Research (WIDE-HTR). Dr. Lee is named as World Top 2% Scientist by Stanford University and Elsevier. He has won more than 18 research excellence and best paper awards, including 2022 ICHRIE Research Award, and worked with HFTP, STR, Accor Hotel, Hilton, IHG, and others.

PLATFORM STATEMENT

I am in my twelfth year with ICHRIE, serving as a dedicated board member, presenter, moderator, panelist, author, and reviewer. As Director of Research (2024–2026), I have contributed significantly to advancing ICHRIE’s strategic goals by leading research initiatives, expanding industry engagement, and supporting members’ research needs and global collaboration through Research Marathon, Ph.D. Dissertation Competition, Graduate Student and Junior Faculty workshops, and more. 

If re-elected, I aim to advance industry-focused, cutting-edge research and teaching through webinars, workshops, and competitions; strengthen research leadership and enhance collaborations with ICHRIE federations through ICHRIE journals and conferences; and foster a sustainable culture of open innovation that supports graduate students and early-career educators—the future of ICHRIE—through doctoral consortia and faculty development programs.

ICHRIE has been instrumental in my growth as a scholar and colleague, and I hope to continue creating meaningful opportunities and value for our members as Director of Research.

>>> Minwoo's Campaign Video

Candidacy for Director of Conference

CeCe Leung

BIOGRAPHY/BIOSKETCH

Dr. Cece Leung is Associate Professor and Program Chair of Event & Hospitality Management at Kansas State University. An active ICHRIE member since 2016, she served as Conference Paper Review Track Co-Chair (Service Management & Marketing) from 2020 to 2025, supporting scholarly quality and mentoring reviewers. From 2020 to 2022, she was Director of Networking for West Federation CHRIE, where she led monthly planning meetings for a full year with the conference organizing committee, overseeing program development, speaker coordination, and virtual platform logistics. She successfully organized two virtual federation conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting over 300 attendees.

In addition, she contributed to the ICHRIE Organizational Task Force in 2020, conducting research on organizational management models and reporting recommendations to the Board. In 2021, she served as a panelist for the ICHRIE special session “Standing Together, Educating Together,” supporting and empowering Asian-American, Asian, and Pacific Islander colleagues and students.

PLATFORM STATEMENT

As Director of Conference, I will bring practical conference leadership experience, strong organizational skills, and a collaborative mindset to ICHRIE’s annual conference. As noted in my bio, I successfully organized two federation conferences. That experience required year-long planning meetings, budgeting and marketing coordination, program development, and close teamwork with multiple committees and volunteers to ensure smooth execution.

In the first year of this role, I will focus on learning and supporting the current Director in policy development, budgeting, marketing, and coordination with federations and conference committees. In the second year, I will assume primary responsibility for leading the conference while mentoring the incoming Assistant Director.

I am a team player who values open communication, shared leadership, and collective problem-solving. My experience working across committees and leading collaborative planning efforts prepares me to contribute effectively and help deliver a high-quality, well-organized conference for our members.

>>> CeCe's Campaign Video

Candidacy for Treasurer

Andrew Moreo, Ph.D.

BIOGRAPHY/BIOSKETCH

Andrew Moreo, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Director of Research and Doctoral Studies for Florida International University’s (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CSHTM), where he has been a member of the faculty since August 2016. During his tenure at FIU, Dr. Moreo has taught undergraduate and graduate courses including Project Management for the Hospitality Industry, Senior Seminar in Hospitality Management, Restaurant Management, and graduate level Strategic Management, Restaurant Development, and Internship.

Dr. Moreo’s primary research area involves employee and consumer behavior in the food and beverage segment of the hospitality industry. Finally, Dr. Moreo has been an ICHRIE member since 2016, attending both regional and national conferences. He had the honor of serving as Treasurer for the SECSA federation as well as sitting on the Finance Committee for ICHRIE. He has also been the Treasurer for ICHRIE for the past two years.

PLATFORM STATEMENT

In my second term, I have updated my platform to consist of three planks: transparency, efficiency, and sustainability. As ICHRIE Treasurer, I have already started providing information to the ICHRIE Board of Directors, the ICHRIE Finance Committee, the Federation Boards, and our membership in a timely and efficient manner, with as much transparency as possible.

Having served as the Treasurer for the SECSA Federation during the accounting transition period, I was well acquainted with a variety of the reporting issues and would like to further streamline those processes. We have made much progress in this area over the last two years. In this same vein, I see it as a vital step forward to support the implementation of a new payment system that would allow Federations to have access to funds and be able to make payments directly to vendors without the need to pay out of pocket and request reimbursement. This legacy process is inefficient and requires members to spend their own personal finances before they are reimbursed.

Finally, I will work with the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee to further develop the financial sustainability framework. The Executive Committee, the Office Staff, and the Finance Committee have already been working diligently to create new bylaws, processes, and guardrails around spending that will ensure greater financial stability and oversight by the board.  If elected, I would continue to work with all appropriate stakeholders to continue the work that we have already begun.  I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve our community and work towards a brighter and more transparent financial future for ICHRIE. 

>>> Andrew's Campaign Video - Coming soon

Candidacy for Vice President

Donald G. Schoffstall Ph.D. (Don/Dr. Don)

BIOGRAPHY/BIOSKETCH

Hello, I am Don, a professor within the College of Hospitality & Business at Johnson & Wales University, for years in undergraduate hospitality management and recently at the doctoral level. My PhD in Hospitality Management is from Iowa State. My greatest career achievement to-date is being able to advise my students through their dissertation process so they too can achieve their educational goals, truly an honor. 

A member of ICHRIE since ‘08, part of NENA, then to SECSA since ‘12, I served as SECSA President for three years, leading efforts to build the first full BOD and as a team, the first two conferences. Serving as Chair, ICHRIE Submission Review Committee for 8 years, I was recognized with President’s Award. I also served as Director of Education (ICHRIE) laying the foundation for more educational aspects to conferences. 

PLATFORM STATEMENT

I am running for ICHRIE Vice President to serve ALL Members and raise OUR organization to benefit and deliver a promising future! I want the ICHRIE I fell in love with to adjust, due to needs and realities, to be the leading educational organization for current and future members. 

We need:

• Better oversight, transparency, and communication from the BOD and Office to all members. 
• Support for current members, both student and professional, and to increase true value-adds for membership. 

• Solid strategy and leadership across the organization, BOD, Federations, and Committees so we may all move positively forward to 5, 10, and many more years. 

Service: SECSA Federation President (2014-2017, plus past pres.); Chair, Conference Submission Review (track chair prior); Director of Education (ICHRIE).

I believe we need someone who will work hard and deliver for us all, continuing to move the organization forward. I would sincerely appreciate your support!

>>> Don's Campaign Video

Candidacy for Vice President

Arjun Singh

BIOGRAPHY/BIOSKETCH

A.J. Singh, Ph.D., is Professor and Founding Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. An active member of ICHRIE, he has contributed through conference participation, research presentations, and service as a reviewer and editorial board member, and has been recognized as an Outstanding ICHRIE Refereed Paper Reviewer. His engagement extends across global CHRIE federations through collaborations that advance hospitality finance and asset management education.

With over three decades of experience in academia and industry, including leadership roles at Michigan State University, Dr. Singh has led program growth, curriculum innovation, and industry-aligned initiatives that enhance student success and career readiness. His work reflects a commitment to strengthening academic–industry partnerships and global collaboration—positioning him to help advance ICHRIE’s relevance, engagement, and future impact.

PLATFORM STATEMENT

ICHRIE stands at a pivotal moment—one that calls for bold thinking, renewed engagement, and clear value for our members. While we face challenges such as shifting enrollment trends, evolving expectations, and financial pressures, I see a powerful opportunity to reenergize our organization and strengthen its global impact.

I am committed to advancing ICHRIE’s mission by deepening academic–industry partnerships, expanding member engagement through relevant and accessible initiatives, and championing innovative, research-informed pedagogy that prepares students for a dynamic hospitality landscape.

With over three decades of experience as a Founding Director, educator, and industry collaborator, I have led program growth, strengthened industry alignment, and built meaningful global connections. I bring a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach and a passion for advancing our profession.

Together, we can shape a stronger, more relevant, and future-ready ICHRIE—and I would be honored to serve in leading that effort.

>>> Arjun's Campaign Video

Thank you to all of the 2026 nominees!

Note to ICHRIE Members:

We know some of you have just come through Federation elections and we are excited that our 2026-27 Federation Boards and ICHRIE Board of Directors are coming together for the summer induction at the 2026 ICHRIE Global Conference.

Elections are an amazing benefit of continuing the support and advancement of hospitality and tourism education and wanted to give you these important details this week:

• As an election reminder, all full ICHRIE members (except Honorary/Complimentary Members or Associate Members) are entitled to vote for ICHRIE elections and in your assigned Federation elections.

• Per ICHRIE bylaws, members must have joined or renewed membership before Saturday, 1 March 2026, to be eligible to vote.

We are counting on your 2026 ICHRIE Member votes!!

Eligible Individual and Full-Institutional Members with fully paid dues will receive a ballot link via email. The election period will remain open until Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at 11:59 PM CST. Newly elected board members will be sworn in during the Annual Business Meeting on Friday, 17 July 2026 at the ICHRIE Global Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. 

>>> For those who meet the requirements for elections for the upcoming ICHRIE Election, you’ll be receiving an email with your ballot on Sunday, 15 March 2026. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to [email protected] or a Federation membership representative.

For membership notices like this, please watch your inbox on Mondays or CLICK HERE for the weekly archive. To view member-only newsletters, you'll need to log into the website through your membership portal. If you have difficulties logging in, please email [email protected].