Carson College faculty honored among world’s top 100 global hospitality educators

Four faculty members from the School of Hospitality Business Management in the Washington State University Carson College of Business have been named among the world's top 100 influential educators in hospitality for 2026 by the International Hospitality Institute.

The institute, a global organization upholding advocacy and standards for the hospitality industry, recognizes academics who continuously advance hospitality curriculum and student success.

Honorees include Jim Harbor, SHBM director; Dogan Gursoy, professor; Dipra Jha, associate professor (career track); and Bob Harrington, professor emeritus. Their work, which covers a broad spectrum of hospitality and tourism management, has been instrumental in advancing knowledge and practice within the industry. Honorees will be featured in the upcoming edition of Global Hospitality Magazine.

"The inclusion of our hospitality faculty in this prestigious recognition highlights their academic expertise and influence, further positioning the School of Hospitality Business Management as a global leader of hospitality education," said Debbie Compeau, Carson College dean.

The faculty members are being celebrated for expertise spanning a wide range of hospitality disciplines, including restaurant operations, tourism strategy, artificial intelligence, customer experience, and food and beverage management.

Harbour specializes in food and beverage management, restaurant operations, and hospitality business education. Gursoy, the Taco Bell Distinguished Professor in the Carson College and a WSU Regents Professor, is internationally recognized for his research on hospitality and tourism management, particularly the use of artificial intelligence in service delivery, sustainability, services management, tourist behavior, and hospitality marketing.

Jha's work focuses on luxury hospitality, tourism strategy, customer experience design, teaching and learning innovation, and global engagement in higher education. He also serves on multiple hospitality and tourism boards, providing industry expertise throughout the Pacific Northwest. Harrington, the retired Ivar B. Haglund Chair in Hospitality Business Management, specialized in food and beverage management, wine tourism, and gastronomic experiences. He is recognized for his research in hospitality, food and wine, and innovation management.