HT Faculty & Staff

Ms. Sandra S. Grunwell
Associate Professor, Hospitality and Tourism
M.B.A. - Bowling Green State University
M.S. - Ohio State University
B.S. - Framingham State College
E-mail: grunwell@wcu.edu
114 Belk
828.227.2154

Professor Grunwell teaches in the Hospitality and Tourism program at WCU and is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) through the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Her teaching areas of expertise are Club Management, Lodging Management and Retail Management.

Scholarly works include both national and international publications and presentations on such topics as small business ownership, female entrepreneurship, eco-challenges for industry, business ethics, and sustainable tourism. She has also published textbook case studies and has been a consultant for small businesses. She is currently conducting an occupancy study for WNC hoteliers through the Tourism Research Institute.

In addition to her involvement with students in a classroom setting, Professor Grunwell works closely with students to provide them real-world learning opportunities through industry speakers, field trips, study tours, conferences and conventions, internships and pre-professional associations.

She is a member of CMAA, the Club Managers Association of America, and is the faculty advisor for WCU's CMAA Student Chapter. She is also a member of CHRIE, the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and APEE, the Association of Private Enterprise Education.

Before coming to WCU in 1983, Ms. Grunwell worked in industry as a market analyst and taught at several other universities.

Professional interests include: lodging management, club management, retail management, entrepreneurship, marketing research, business ethics, eco-tourism and sustainable tourism development.