A peer-to-peer discuss with the Special Assistant to the President at UNLV, and until 2025 the Dean of UNLV's Dean Harah College of Hospitality.

🎙️In Episode 84 of Deans Counsel, panelists Ken Kring and Dave Ikenberry are joined by Stowe Shoemaker, an icon in his field who currently serves as Special Assistant to the President at UNLV.

Having led the Harrah College of Hospitality as Dean through 2025, Shoemaker offers a rare look at the strategic inner workings of world-class hospitality programs and explains how market attrition can create unique opportunities for institutional leadership.

“I could see the trend… ‘let's just merge the business school into the hotel school.’ As dean, I didn't want that to happen. What I had to do was say, ‘Okay, let's focus on one industry—hospitality—and let's own it.’” — Stowe Shoemaker

Beyond the strategy, Shoemaker shares the personal narrative that fueled his commitment to building an industry-leading hospitality school. He offers high-level guidance on leveraging advisory boards and philanthropy to drive growth, concluding with reflections on his distinguished tenure and a pivotal piece of advice from his aunt regarding the transition out of the deanship.

This episode is a must-listen for current and aspiring academic leaders seeking to elevate their programs through bold, visionary leadership.

Listen to the full conversation here:

Photos courtesy of UNLV

Learn more about Stowe Shoemakerl here.