“This opportunity will allow Joshua to represent Rosen College and �鶹ӳ����ý as leaders in academic advising, and help drive the success of this important organization dedicated to the educational development of our students,” said Lori Ashby, director of student services at �鶹ӳ����ý’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

�鶹ӳ����ý Rosen College academic services coordinator Vanessa Cogswell spoke about peer advising & mentoring, while Joshua Johnson, the college’s academic relations coordinator, discussed advisor training & development.

Cogswell’s commission-sponsored session, entitled “Peer Outreach Mentoring Program – Building empowerment through a coaching framework in the era of the millennial student,” focused on the application of coaching principles within a team environment, such as a peer mentoring program.

“In sports, a coach brings a team of people together to accomplish a common goal,” said Cogswell. “I took this concept and applied it to the Peer Outreach Mentoring Program that I oversee. By building camaraderie among the students and empowering them to contribute to the group, they are working as a team to successfully reach their goal.”

Since it was founded in the fall of 2011, Cogswell’s peer mentoring program has had an extremely high success rate of helping struggling students improve their grades through the help of fellow students. During the Spring 2012 semester, the POMP program had an 89% success rate in helping struggling students remove themselves from academic probation.

Johnson’s session, entitled “My pleasure to serve: Exceptional academic advising that will leave your students singing for more,” preached a customer service approach to advising.

“An academic advisor’s mission is to help their students graduate, but that becomes difficult to do, if students choose not to return to their advisor,” said Johnson. “In order to retain students, advisors must deliver great service, leaving their ‘client’ with a positive and memorable experience. When people have a positive and memorable experience, they’re not only likely to return, but they are also likely to share their experience with others.”

Both Cogswell and Johnson’s presentations were selected out of 880 proposals.

For more information on NACADA or the 36th Annual Conference, visit www.nacada.ksu.edu.

The college teamed up with the Central Florida National Academy Foundation to host the fourth-annual High School Conference and Tradeshow for students from six high schools in Orange, Lake and Brevard counties. Each of the participating schools has academies geared toward hospitality and tourism.

The event took place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rosen College campus near International Drive on Friday, Nov. 18.  Rosen College’s Joshua Johnson serves as the chair of the NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism for Orange County Public Schools and described the day as both a great event and a huge success.

Its theme, “Hospitality is Sweet!,” featured: a tour of the campus; an educational exhibitor showcase; and break-out sessions about risk management, resume and interviewing tips and other topics.  Participants enjoyed a presentation from the keynote speaker, Gatorland’s Mark McHugh, and representatives from Visit Orlando, Wire-Free LED, Nickelodeon Suites Resort, �鶹ӳ����ý/Rosen College Undergraduate Admissions, SeaWorld, Johnson & Wales University and AAA shared industry information and addressed questions from the high school students.

Students participating in the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism from Mid Florida Tech, Freedom High School, Colonial High School, Oak Ridge High School, Rockledge High School and Merritt Island High School were invited to attend. Rosen College Event Management students in Instructor A’Rion Raymond’s class organized the event.

Robin Cascio, a senior majoring in Event Management and a student in Raymond’s class, shares: “This event provides high school students interested in hospitality a personal introduction to educational and future employment opportunities. The interactive sessions help expand upon and reinforce their current studies. The conference offers an environment for the students to ask questions and learn more about the industry.”

Pat Novalis with Mid Florida Tech’s Hotel and Resort Business Management program shared, “Our sincere thanks to Rosen College and all the students involved in making this such a great day for us.”  Novalis put together of the event.

The National Academy Foundation (NAF) is an acclaimed national network of high school career academies predominately based in urban districts — schools within schools — with rigorous, career-themed curricula created with current industry and educational expertise. Each year, NAF serves more than 50,000 students in 40 states and the District of Columbia through the Academy of Finance, the Academy of Engineering, the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, and the Academy of Information Technology.  For more information, visit .

“Akilah” means “wisdom” in Swahili and the Institute empowers young women in East Africa to transform their lives by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become leaders and entrepreneurs.  The young women of the Akilah Institute are pursuing degrees in hospitality management, as it is the fastest growing sector of the Rwandan economy.

Elizabeth Dearborn Davis, co-founder and CEO of the Akilah Institute, hoped that her education experience could turn these survivors into community leaders and role models for the next generation.  “When you teach a woman, you empower a nation,” said Davis.  By 2020, Akilah plans to graduate 1,780 young women who are working and serving as leaders in their communities.

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management became connected with the Akilah Institute through Dr. Kimberly Severt.  When she learned of the school, she was inspired to immediately get involved with this valuable cause.  She attended Akilah’s annual fundraiser in Tampa and created an assignment that involved her students designing hospitality and guest service-themed webinars to donate to the young women attending the Akilah Institute.  She explains, “I hope that we realize how fortunate and blessed we are, and I hope that Allen and Noella’s stories empower us to make a difference.”

Dr. Severt helped coordinate the recent visit by Allen, Noella and Jen DiSimone, Development Associate with the Akilah Institute.  The day included a tour of Rosen College, a meet and greet with students in Dr. Manuel Rivera’s Event Management class, a tour of Disney’s Contemporary Resort and an afternoon at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Dr. Rivera was honored to assign his students the task of event planning from a service angle. His students pitched fundraising event ideas to Allen and Noella including a technology drive, a women’s empowerment weekend seminar, a fun run at Lake Eola, a book drive and a school supply drive.  Allen thanked the students for their ideas and said, “We have very much to learn from you and we hope you have a bit to learn from us.”

Noella shared with the class how she wakes up at 5 a.m. most mornings and walks 45 minutes to the bus, and then another 15 minutes from the bus to her school.  After classes, she works in a restaurant until late at night, often getting only three hours of sleep. She then told the class, “Today, I’ve come to learn many things to take back to school.  I am committed to studying and finishing school because life is so hard.  We would like for you to give us advice to improve our skills.”

After the presentations, Dr. Rivera’s students treated Noella, Allen and Jen to a reception in the Hall of Fame lobby where they were able to interact one-on-one.  Allen shared about the experience, “Your students have so much heart.  I am deeply touched.”

After enjoying a traditional American lunch of chicken fingers and hamburgers at T.G.I. Friday’s, the guests journeyed to Disney and received a behind-the-scenes tour of Disney’s Contemporary Resort.  The visit focused on the convention and conference industry and included guest rooms, ballrooms, The Wave Restaurant and the California Grill.  The executive chef even provided Allen and Noella with their first taste of lobster.

Dr. Severt and Rosen College Coordinator of Academic Relations, Mr. Joshua Johnson, accompanied the Akilah Institute guests during the Disney portion of their visit.  “It was such a joyful experience to see the excitement in the young ladies’ eyes,” shares Johnson.

Noella and Allen rode their first attractions including Pirates of Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion and It’s A Small World.  They additionally enjoyed a parade, the nighttime Wishes show and fireworks. No trip to Disney would be complete without personalized mouse ears – Allen and Noella chose the princess ones.

Allen and Noella are remarkable women with an immense amount of strength and promise.  They are in pursuit for a better future for their friends, family and country.  Rosen College was fortunate enough to be part of their journey.  For more, please visit .

About Noella and Allen

Noella is a survivor of the 1994 genocide.  After Hutu neighbors killed her father, her family went into hiding for several months, safeguarded by a sympathetic Hutu.  Noella and her family later returned to their community and found the path to the future was through reconciliation.  Overcoming incredible adversity, she studied primary school in the Southern Province and attended Mukingi secondary school.  She was honored to be selected by MTV Africa to interview President Kagame and, after receiving a scholarship from an Akilah donor, to travel to Hong Kong for an internship as part of her studies.  “Since I have joined Akilah, my life has totally changed in a very positive way.  I have started to have dreams for my future.  In 10 years, my goal is to own and operate my own hotel.”

Allen was born in Uganda to Hutu and Tutsi parents but orphaned at an early age when her family returned to Rwanda in 1994.  Allen diligently studied at FAWE Girls’ primary school and Kiziguro secondary school, where she excelled at physics, math, chemistry and history.  Since enrolling at Akilah, Allen has become the secretary of her political youth group in Kigali and is one of many Akilah students employed in the emerging hospitality industry in Rwanda.  “I have no siblings or parents, but I have hope for my future. I want to become an independent woman and start my own business. Akilah is giving me the skills to reach my goals.”

Mr. Joshua Johnson, coordinator for academic relations at Rosen College, assisted the Central Florida’s Chapter of the National Academy Foundation (NAF) in raising over $20,000 for Orange and Seminole County Schools.

The NAF houses academies in select public schools in the areas of Hospitality and Tourism, Finance and Information Technology.  The purpose of the academies is to promote and encourage students to pursue higher education and careers in the aforementioned areas.

Johnson serves as the current chair for the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism and the Annual Dinner and Silent Auction Committee.  The organizations’ 8th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction, themed “Enchantment Under the Sea”, took place Saturday, February 26.  Johnson shares,  “This event was a huge success for the NAF Academies students.  Anytime we are able to raise scholarship funds for our area high school students to pursue their dreams of higher education, is a wonderful thing.”

Prior to this year’s event, over $124,000 in scholarship funds had been raised and awarded to approximately 248 students.

Other Rosen College team members affiliated with the organization include Dr. Tadayuki Hara and Ms. Genyth Travis.