Diana S. Barber, Lecturer
Email: dsbarber@gsu.edu
Phone:404-413-7616
Education: J.D., Mercer University, CHE

Biography: Diana S. Barber is a hospitality attorney and the founder of LodgeLaw, a division of Barber Law Associates P.C., a law firm specializing in providing legal services and education to hospitality companies.  Prior to joining the faculty at GSU, Ms. Barber served as vice president and associate general counsel for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, where she worked for over 14 years.  Ms. Barber is on the editorial board of Hospitality Law Newsletter, writes the monthly question and answer column for the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association and is a regular speaker on many hospitality issues for national, regional and local industry associations and local businesses.  She began her law practice with King & Spalding in Atlanta, Georgia after graduating with honors from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and The Florida Bar. In the summer of 2007, Ms. Barber completed her certification as a Certified Hospitality Educator, a program sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Debra F. Cannon, Ph.D., Director, Associate Professor
Email: hrtdfc@langate.gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-7617
Education: Ph.D., Georgia State University; M.S., University of Georgia; B.S., Armstrong State College

Biography: Dr. Cannon specializes in hotel management and human resource management in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining Georgia State, she worked with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. and Hyatt Hotels. Her research interests have focused on organizational commitment, sexual harassment and work teams. Cannon's research has been published in journals including the International Journal of Hospitality Management, Hospitality and Tourism Educator, and the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. She has conducted funded research for hospitality organizations such as the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association.

Raymond R. Ferreira, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Email: ferreira@gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-7618
Education: Ph.D., University of Maryland; M.B.A., University of Minnesota; B.A., Rutgers University

Biography: Dr. Ferreira's primary area of interest is in private-club management, specifically in the area of strategic planning and marketing of private clubs, including country clubs, golf clubs, yacht clubs and city clubs. Ferreira is a member of the Club Managers Association of America and the American Marketing Association. He also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Restaurant and Food Service Marketing. Ferreira's research has been published in the top hospitality journals. He has been a consultant for numerous prestigious clubs across America and Canada.

Misty Johanson, Ph.D, Assistant Professor
Email: hrtmmj@langate.gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-7619
Education: Ph.D., Michigan State University; M.S, Michigan State University; B.S., Michigan State University

Biography: Dr. Johanson's industry experience includes managing and training in resort hotels and restaurants in the U.S., Hawaii and the Caribbean. She has contributed to the industry through professional experience as a management consultant and advisor to several international travel organizations including Starwood and Hilton. Dr. Johanson has enhanced several areas of the industry thorough seminars and training in the following disciplines: Communication, Goal-Setting, Conflict-Management Skills, International/Expatriate Development, Training Methods Evaluation and Design, as well as identifying trends, impacts and recent changes in the Hospitality industry. Dr. Johanson has been successful in publishing over fifteen articles all of which have appeared in Hospitality's top refereed journals, to include application to the international, national and local business communities. In addition, she has been invited to present at several domestic and international conferences and serves on the editorial board of CHRIE's top refereed journal – the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education.

Marlena Parker, Business Manager
Email: mrparker@gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-7621
Education: B.S., Georgia State University

Biography: Marlena Parker is the Office Manager for the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality. She has over 14 years of experience in administration, including progressively responsible key assignments in student recruitment and career development. During her first year with the university she assisted in enhancing positive recognition of the hospitality program to transfer, post baccalaureate and incoming freshman. She manages the financial affairs of the School of Hospitality, along with assisting students with course selection and requirements necessary for successful completion of a degree in Hospitality Administration. Marlena's role as Office Manager also requires assisting faculty members and supervising staff employees.

David V. Pavesic, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Studies, Professor
Email: hrtdvp@langate.gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-7622
Education: Ph.D., Florida State University; M.B.A., Michigan State University; B.S., Florida State University

Biography: Dr. Pavesic has been at Georgia State since 1986 and served as program chair from 1988 to 1996. He is currently the Graduate program Director and teaches Hadm 3401 and 3402, Food Production and Service management; Hadm 3420, Restaurant and Foodservice Management; and Hadm 4100, Cost Controls and financial Analysis. He is a former restaurant industry corporate executive and owner of two causal dining Italian restaurants. He is the author of The Fundamental Principles of Restaurant Cost Control; Menu Pricing and Strategy; and the six booklet Restaurant Manager Handbook series. He is ranked 9th in the top 108 "most influential hospitality management education scholars" from 1989-1999; and 17th out of the top 100 hospitality authors in total publications in premier hospitality journals. His areas of research interest are menu sales analysis, menu design, and the history of the hotel and restaurant industry. His hobby is collecting old menus, hospitality books and magazines.

Deborah Robbe, Professor
Email: hrtddr@langate.gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-7623
Education: M.S., Colorado State University; B.S., Colorado State University

Biography: Deborah Robbe's current teaching and service concentrations are in fairs, trade shows, expsitions, travel and tourism. She is currently developing textbooks in the areas of trade show management and fair and festival management. In addition to her teaching duties, Robbe is active in industry associations with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions and the International Association of Exposition Managers. Her current research areas have included the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome (effects and solutions of panhandling), and a McDonald's Heritage Bowl study of festivals and events surrounding bowl games.