Welcome to my website. Here you will find information about my "real job" as a professor at the University of Alabama, as well as my speaking, training and consulting services in the area of legal issues and crisis preparedness in the meetings and events industries. And probably some other things about me. For more details, please click on the menu buttons for each topic.
I'm glad you stopped by.
My Real Job
I am proud to be a professor in the Restaurant, Hotel, and Meetings Management program in the University of Alabama Department of Human Nutrition & Hospitality Management. My specialty area is meetings and business events. I am fortunate to teach some of the greatest students in the world.
My True Love...Education
If there is a common thread running through all that I do, it is education. I have a true passion for educating not only college students, but also conducting professional education programs for professionals in the meetings and events industries.
What I Believe
My core beliefs--which influence all that I do--are these:
My Background
I have a varied background in the meetings and events industries. I have held positions as a meeting planner, a convention and visitors bureau sales manager, an association executive, a special events caterer, and a lawyer. I am one of the only people in the world with a PhD in Hospitality Administration, a law degree, and the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification. My diverse background helps me to approach topics from a unique legal and business perspective.
TYRA W. HILLIARD, PhD, JD, CMP is an associate professor of restaurant, hotel and meetings management at University of Alabama where she teaches courses in meeting and event management. She has also taught courses and facilitated presentations for international audiences in countries such as Turkey, Greece, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Qatar, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Mexico, and Canada.
Tyra is very active in meetings industry associations. She has chaired the PCMA Faculty Task Force and the Convention Industry Council’s APEX Contracts Panel, and has been named one of the “25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry.” She was recognized for professional achievement as the Educator honoree at the PCMA Foundation Professional Achievement Awards Dinner in 2009. She was also recently honored with the 2010 MPI Chairwoman’s Award for her work on the Meeting & Business Events Competencies & Standards (MBECS).
During her career, Tyra has worked in the meetings industry as an attorney, a meeting planner, a catering manager, and an association executive. Her industry experience gives her a unique perspective on the legal and business aspects of meeting and event management.
The University of Alabama Restaurant, Hotel, & Meetings Management Program
I am an associate professor in The University of Alabama Restaurant, Hotel, and Meetings Management program . I enjoy teaching courses like:
Prior to teaching at The University of Alabama, I taught in Tourism & Convention Department in the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management at The George Washington University. I also taught at UNLV's Singapore campus.
I have taught graduate and undergraduate courses, on-campus and online.
Professional Speaker
I also speak to professional groups on topics like:
Legal & Risk Management
Industry-Academia Relationships
Work Environment
(See Media section for 1:30 video interview on career ladder v. career lattice)
E-mail me for more information on these or related topics.
Thanks for getting in touch. I will respond, but appreciate your patience if it takes me a few days.
tyra.hilliard_gmail.com
(912) 506-8708
(205) 348-6170 (UA)
