Faculty | Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management | SIU

Dr. Niki Davis began her career in media, marketing, and event planning and actively participates on event committees to help plan anything from local community events to large national conferences. She regularly draws on her personal experience when teaching to help connect industry to the classroom. Dr. Davis has taught tourism and event marketing as well as event and destination management courses in HTEM for over 15 years.

Dr. John Farrish is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition. He teaches a variety of courses in Hospitality Management, including Food and Labor Cost Control and Facilities Management. Dr. Farrish had a twenty-five-year career in the hospitality industry, managing food and beverage operations in major hotels in both San Francisco and Las Vegas as well as in independent restaurants. After leaving the hospitality industry Dr. Farrish earned his Ph.D. degree at the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Dr. Clarke Griffin received his bachelor’s degree in culinary management from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, M.B.A. from McKendree University, and Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Concordia University-Portland.

Mr. Karan has over 20 years of management experience in the hospitality industry in the United States, India, the United Kingdom and Singapore. With strong academic qualifications and professional industry experience, he has been teaching multiple courses in areas of hospitality and tourism management.

Stephanie Rhodes received her bachelor’s degree in agriculture communications and marketing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A southern Illinois native, Stephanie has spent 20 years working in the region in tourism development, agritourism, and non-profit management of tourism and agriculture organizations.

Before that, she worked in corporate marketing and communications for a global manufacturer in the agriculture industry. She currently operates a freelance agency focusing on rural tourism and agribusiness projects, especially with specialty growers and Illinois wine growers, including grant writing, strategic communications, and project management.

Dr. Sylvia Smith joined the faculty at SIU in 2007. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Tennessee while completing research on Culinary Tourism. Her interest in food is what landed her in Carbondale, Illinois. During one of her interviews, she had a chance to visit the local farmer’s market. The market, people, and produce were so abundant and thriving she recognized the quality of life that could be possible in the Carbondale community. In 2010, she helped establish the Illinois Farmers Market Association.

Originally from the Caribbean region, Dr. Gemma Wenner speaks French, Spanish, and English. She loves to travel, and her travels have taken her to 65-different countries, which has enhanced her understanding of cultural heritage, as well as the many economic dynamics that travel stimulates within many different sectors.