International Hospitality Consultant, Researcher, and Educator Nicolas Graf Named Associate Dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism

NEW YORK -- Nicolas Graf, PhD, was recently appointed associate dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYUSPS) Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism. Over the past 20 years, Graf has delivered executive education courses for companies in Asia, North and South America, and Europe, and has served as a consultant in the fields of asset management, strategic planning, and business development. Most recently, he served as chief academic officer of Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, a top-ranked hospitality and tourism management school, where he oversaw all faculty, academic programs, and admissions for the school's five campuses. Prior to this role, Graf served as managing director of Alain Ducasse Education & Consulting, and professor and director of the IMHI Center of Excellence in Hospitality, Food & Travel at ESSEC Business School in Paris. Before joining ESSEC, he was a professor at the University of Houston, a professor at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, and a visiting professor at NEOMA Business School.

Graf's research as a scholar focuses on strategy and corporate finance. He has published in numerous academic journals, including the International Journal of Hospitality Management, the Real Estate Finance Journal, and the Journal of Retail and Leisure Property. He also has published a number of applied articles in industry journals and newsletters such as the HVS newsletter, hospitalitynet.com, ehotelier.com, tourismroi.com, and EHLITE Magazine.

In his new role as associate dean of the Tisch Center, Graf will lead the Center in creating innovative curricula, engaging industry partners, and attracting high-quality students from around the world. He will work closely with NYUSPS Dean Dennis Di Lorenzo to develop and implement a strategic vision for the Center. Graf will officially assume his new role on
January 1, 2018.

Graf earned a PhD from the Pamplin College of Business of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, with a concentration in corporate finance and strategic management. He earned an MBA from HEC Lausanne and from the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland.

About the NYUSPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism
The NYUSPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism has prepared global leaders in the dynamic, expanding industries of travel, tourism, and hospitality for more than 20 years. With widely recognized, cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate degree and noncredit Career Advancement Courses and Professional Diplomas, as well as a deep commitment to integrating theory with practice, the NYUSPS Tisch Center is the perfect environment in which to embark upon an academic journey that prepares professionals for careers in hospitality and tourism. Students have access to the extraordinary resources of New York University, one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions. Tisch Center students benefit not only from the expertise of dedicated full-time faculty members, but also from adjunct faculty members and guest lecturers who are renowned in their fields, unparalleled access to industry leaders, invaluable site visits and study away opportunities, and highly successful global alumni who serve as mentors. Through rigorous curricula, applicable research, and a hands-on approach to learning, students gain the preparation, knowledge, and skills sought by employers. For more information about the NYUSPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, visit sps.nyu.edu/tisch.

Media Contact

Alka Gupta

Associate Director of Public Relations - NYU School of Professional Studies [email protected]