SDSU Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism

SDSU Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism The most personalized school of its kind in developing hospitality and tourism leaders. Academia + Industry = Dynamic Partnerships and Jobs for Graduates

10/01/2026

the average camera roll of an SDSU Payne School student 📸😎

Thank you to the leaders from the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), San Diego FC (SDFC), and SeaWorld San Diego for vi...
10/01/2026

Thank you to the leaders from the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA), San Diego FC (SDFC), and SeaWorld San Diego for visiting the Payne School this week!

Our students enjoyed lunch with their teams and had the chance to ask questions and hear about their career paths. They also joined and spoke in two of our classes, bringing real-world insight straight into the classroom. Experiences like these are invaluable as our students prepare for their futures in the industry.

We would like to extend a thank you to Daniel Kuperschmid and Theresa Cunningham of SDTA, Jen Bower of SDFC, and Tyler Carter of SeaWorld. We are grateful for your partnership and your continued investment in the next generation of hospitality leaders.

As we finish up Masters Program on Campus Week and welcome a new cohort of graduate students to the Payne School, we’re ...
09/26/2026

As we finish up Masters Program on Campus Week and welcome a new cohort of graduate students to the Payne School, we’re excited to spotlight an alumnus who has experienced the Payne School at both the undergraduate and graduate level!

Meet Adam Edelman, Class of 2011 & 2015. 🎓

Adam earned his BS in Hospitality & Tourism Management – Hotel Operations & Management before returning to earn his MS in Hospitality & Tourism Management. Today, he is the General Manager of The Shay, part of Destination by Hyatt, in Culver City.

Adam shared that one of the moments he truly recognized the value of his education came shortly after graduation, when he realized the broad business foundation he gained at the Payne School had prepared him to understand and contribute in ways he hadn’t fully appreciated while still a student.

Now, 15 years after earning his undergraduate degree, those lessons continue to influence the way he leads—particularly the idea that exceptional guest experiences begin with taking care of the people who create them.

As our newest graduate students begin their own Payne School experience, we’re proud to share stories like Adam’s and celebrate where that education can take them.

We were honored to host leaders from Four Seasons on campus this week! The Four Seasons team joined two lectures, hosted...
09/24/2026

We were honored to host leaders from Four Seasons on campus this week! The Four Seasons team joined two lectures, hosted a panel session, and connected with students over lunch. Their visit gave our students an inside look at career pathways, industry trends, and the standards of excellence that define luxury hospitality.

Their expertise and engagement provided a meaningful real-world perspective for our future hospitality professionals.

Thank you, Four Seasons, for your partnership and your continued investment in developing the next generation of leaders in hospitality.

We're proud to spotlight Jennifer Minzey (Senior Meeting Planner, Kaiser Permanente) and Stephen LaRue (Aquatics Program...
09/22/2026

We're proud to spotlight Jennifer Minzey (Senior Meeting Planner, Kaiser Permanente) and Stephen LaRue (Aquatics Program Director, City of Santa Monica), both starting our Meeting & Event Management (MEM) master's program this fall.

On a recent episode of the Bollota-Fide podcast, Jennifer and Stephen opened up about what led them back to school, how they're balancing full-time careers with graduate coursework, their thoughts on AI's role (and limits) in professional writing, and the unexpected paths that brought them to this point in their careers.

Tune in to hear their stories and get a glimpse of what the MEM experience is really like from the student side. Listen here: https://youtu.be/q83Kmt_86vo?si=0mXlcvKdJcF4C2sU

09/22/2026

Discover where SDSU's Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management could take you!

This week’s Payne School Alumni Spotlight features Cassandra Spackey (Rogers), Class of 2014! Cassandra graduated from t...
09/17/2026

This week’s Payne School Alumni Spotlight features Cassandra Spackey (Rogers), Class of 2014!

Cassandra graduated from the Hospitality & Tourism Management program with an emphasis in Meetings and Events and is now a Senior Talent Acquisition Manager with Sodexo Live!

When Cassandra looks back at her time in the Payne School, it’s the relationships that stand out most. A connection she made through the program ultimately helped lead her to the career she has today, while friendships she made as a student became lifelong ones — including women who later stood beside her at her wedding.

Her #1 piece of advice is one worth remembering: network, make connections and stay connected.

Cassandra is also planning to attend our 25th Anniversary Alumni Weekend, October 23–25, and we would love to see even more of her classmates there!

🎉 Registration is now LIVE. Join us for a weekend of reconnecting, celebrating and making new Payne School memories. Be sure to register for the events you’d like to attend!

Another week, another Payne School story worth celebrating! ❤️🖤Meet Edmond Tso ’08, Vice President, Hotel Real Estate As...
09/11/2026

Another week, another Payne School story worth celebrating! ❤️🖤
Meet Edmond Tso ’08, Vice President, Hotel Real Estate Assets at CTF Development in Washington, D.C., and our next featured alumnus in 25 Years, 25 Stories.

When Edmond looks back on his time at the Payne School, some of the experiences that stand out most happened outside the classroom. He remembers attending hospitality conferences like NSMH, ALIS and the NYC Hotel Show, traveling to cities across the country, and meeting students and industry professionals who expanded his view of what a career in hospitality could look like.

“The Payne School gave me my first taste of how fun and rewarding the hotel industry can be.”

Those early experiences also taught him a lesson he still carries today: hospitality is a very small industry — everyone knows everyone.

His advice? Never burn bridges. You never know when you may work with someone again or discover that you share mutual connections somewhere down the road.

Edmond also shared how much Brian Blake's mentorship meant to him as a student, describing him as someone who was positive, accessible, honest with his career advice and always made sure students enjoyed the program along the way.

We love seeing where the Payne School experience has taken Edmond and are proud to include his story as we celebrate 25 years of shaping hospitality and recreation leaders.

Our next 25 Years, 25 Stories Alumni Spotlight comes at the perfect time! ❤️🖤Meet Cinthia Cruz-Salas ’10, Senior Manager...
09/04/2026

Our next 25 Years, 25 Stories Alumni Spotlight comes at the perfect time!
❤️🖤
Meet Cinthia Cruz-Salas ’10, Senior Manager, Talent & Leadership Development, Caribbean & Latin America at Hilton.

With Hilton recruiters visiting campus next week, Cinthia’s journey is a great reminder for our students that getting involved during your time at the Payne School really does matter.

As a student, Cinthia volunteered at major hospitality events and conferences, participated in NSMH regional conferences, and took advantage of opportunities to meet and build relationships with industry professionals. She credits those experiences — along with the Payne School’s strong emphasis on networking — with helping pave the way for her career with Hilton.

Her takeaway for students today is simple but powerful: show up, get involved, build your network and have your elevator pitch ready. You never know when one conversation could lead to your next opportunity.

Cinthia says it best:

“The Payne School gave me the confidence to turn opportunities into a career.”

We’re so proud to celebrate Cinthia and the incredible career she has built — and we hope her story inspires our current students to take advantage of every opportunity in front of them.

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San Diego, CA
92182

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