Dr. Kelly
Virginia Phelan is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland in the
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. Previously, she served as a
Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Tourism
and Hospitality Management at the University of Botswana during the 2013-2014
academic year. She was also the Associate Department Chair and Associate
Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Hospitality and Retailing at
Texas Tech University.
Her current
research focuses primarily on tourism development in sub-Saharan Africa and
approaches the topic from a multidisciplinary angle. Some of her
publications have examined volunteer tourism, conservation efforts, challenges associated
with sustainability and ecotourism, and the host/guest interaction. She has ongoing projects in Botswana, Namibia
and Uganda and is currently working on a book about the growth of the tourism industry
in Africa.
Dr.
Phelan has taught undergraduate and graduate level classes in Marketing, Human
Resources, Event Management, Tourism Development, Ecotourism and Sustainable
Tourism Practices. She has
received numerous awards including the 2012 ICHRIE Johnson & Wales Best
Case Study Award, and the 18th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student
Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism Best Paper Award for Practical
Implications.
She holds
a Doctorate of Philosophy in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Purdue
University, a Master of Science degree in Hospitality Administration from the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International
Relations from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Phelan’s prior industry experience
includes working for the U.S. Lacrosse Foundation, the Walt Disney Corporation
in Florida, Caesar’s Entertainment and Harrah’s Entertainment in Las Vegas.
