The HoST - October Recap — Niagara University CoHST

From the Dean’s Desk

Bridget Niland, Ph.D., J.D.

No October Surprises Here: Another Great Month at CoHST

It is hard to miss that we are in the midst of another contentious election season here in the US, with the usual October Surprises meant to sway us one way or another in the election booth. Thankfully, CoHST was surprise-proof this October–just another great month of education and activities with our students.

CoHST’s nationally ranked Club Manager’s Association of America chapter attended the Great Lakes CMAA Regional Conference. NU’s CMAA Officers Molly Passow, Katherine Foerg, Althea Simmons, Valentina Krajcic and Nicole Clark traveled to Pittsburgh, PA to gain event management and leadership experience at St. Clair and Velly Brook Country Clubs.

CoHST Tourism and Event Management students were central to two major campus events last month. Professor Mike Jeswald’s Events Team helped to plan and execute the 2024 Peace and Justice Studies Association’s annual conference. More than 300 scholars traveled to Glynn Hall for the three day event. Our Tourism and Event Management students also contributed their time and talent to 2024 President’s Dinner at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. Twenty-two students from our college’s Attraction and Events course worked alongside Professor Jeswald and staff from Niagara’s Institutional Advancement office to ensure a flawless event. Students also helped plan our college’s latest tradition of recognizing the generosity of EM Statler and the Statler Foundation by celebrating Mr. Statler’s birthday on October 26.

CoHST marked the Pro Sport Equinox on October 28 with our Sabres Scholars and their families attending the match against the Florida Panthers. The scholars took a behind-the-scenes facility tour on game day. Earlier in the month the Sabres organization hosted a professional networking event. We look forward to our next NU@Sabres event on Sunday, April 6, 2025 that will involve more students interacting with Sabres front office staff and attending the match that day against the Boston Bruins.

In November, students start to focus on end-of-semester assignments and exams and we hit the road for some special activities. CoHST will once again recruit our next great group of students at Ultimate DECA Power Trip event in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is also the destination of our CMAA students as the attend a the National Student Education Conference from November 9-10. Our future Lake Como Work Abroad students travel to New York City to meet with their York College colleaugues and former CoHST Professor Joe Scarcelli. The students will be accompanied by our three exchange students from the University of Insubria for some hotel tours and professional development discussions. We are also hosting high schools on campus for etiquette lunches and shadow days. We can’t wait to meet with these prospective CoHST students.

Finally, as we head into this last weekend of this election cycle, I wish all of you peace and goodness as we exercise the gift of living in a thriving democracy. When I first started at NU, President Maher shared with me Holy Moments by Matthew Kelly and it has been a wonderful re-read in the midst of the election battle. The book’s message is simple and timeless: let us not forget that each day we are in the presence of God and through each other we demonstrate his bright light and love to all around us.

Please email me your questions, comments, and feedback to bniland@niagara.edu.