MTSU hosts tourism, leisure sport management career fair

Middle Tennessee State University student Elizabeth Donaghey was making plans for a future in event planning at the recent Tourism and Hospitality/Leisure and Sport Management Career Fair on campus.

“I feel this is very beneficial,” said Donaghey of Murfreesboro, who connected with Visit Franklin at the career fair and plans to intern there this summer.

Nearly 30 vendors from across the region attended at the fifth annual career fair in the Student Union Ballroom on campus. Vendors represented historic sites, camps, entertainment venues, tourist destinations, hotels and restaurants.

Brand names included Gaylord Opryland, Chick-fil-A, Visit Clarksville, the Nashville Predators, PGA of America, Panda Express and Nashville Sounds, just to name a few.

“This is such a good opportunity to link students with these vendors,” said Yi “Vanessa” Liu, assistant professor in MTSU’s Tourism and Hospitality Management program, or THM, within the Department of Health and Human Performance. “Several students already have potential job positions and partnerships with several good companies.”

Emily Tichota from Hermitage previously planned on a career as a meteorologist. But she transferred to MTSU two years ago and changed her major to tourism and hospitality.

“Through the tourism program, I’ve been able to get a job already with Gaylord Hotels as a seasonal worker,” said Tichota, who works in photography for Gaylord. “Having what I’m learning in class and practicing it in real life, it helps shape my degree and shape my career.”

Students in the tourism and hospitality management program are required to work in their respective industries as part of two work experience courses, logging 300 hours each — which averages about 20 hours a week — at two different organizations that apply to course credits. So some of the students who showed up at the Feb. 25 career fair were looking for those positions.

“They really push you to be out there and not be stuck behind a desk,” Donaghey said.

Leisure and sport management major Shaka Chihombori of Murfreesboro visited the career fair and talked to some of the sports teams and venues in hopes of garnering a position that would further his pursuit of a career in athletics.

Although experience is key, having a background in business makes students more attractive to
employers.

“Every time I tell somebody I’m majoring in tourism and hospitality; they are really impressed. I think it makes me seem I have more value,” said Abby Norman, of Old Hickory, who serves as vice president of the Hospitality, Tourism and Event Planning Club on campus.

Resources through MTSU have paved the way for Norman to garner beneficial experiences. Last summer she worked at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge through the Southern Hospitality Internship Program.

“I’m focusing on the skills that I’m wanting to enhance and networking with industry professionals,”
Norman said.