Education
B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management, M.H.M., Ed.D., University of Houston. CHE.

Expertise & Research Interests

• Restaurant Operations
• Training and Development in Diversity
• Hospitality Culture

Career Highlights
Recipient of several educational awards, including Hilton College's Research Excellence Award in 2011 and 2003, the 2005 University of Houston Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award, and Hilton College's 1999 Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Dawson joined the college in 1996 as a lecturer and then worked her way through the academic ranks to becoming a Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Two-time recipient of the International Council on Hotel and Restaurant and Institutional Education’s Best Paper award, Dr. Dawson has published more than 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings. She serves five editorial boards including Cornell Quarterly, the International Journal of Contemporary Hotel Management, and the Journal of Hospitality Education. Prior to teaching career, held management positions with Pappas Restaurants and McDonald's Restaurants; as general manager with McDonald's, her restaurant received an Outstanding Store Award in 1989; brings to her classroom more than 14 years of experience in hospitality operations, including line positions, training coordinator positions and management positions.