$1 million Aramark gift sponsors professorship

A new named professorship has been established in the Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management (HRIM), thanks to a $1 million gift from Aramark Corp.

Fred DeMicco, who chairs HRIM, has been appointed as the first Aramark Chair in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, and former HRIM chairperson Paul Wise has been named Aramark Chair Emeritus.

Aramark joined the University community in July 1991 and is responsible for Dining Services on campus, including residential dining halls, catering, concessions, the Blue and Gold Club, retail food courts and convenience stores. Aramark also is in charge of vending services and conference services.

"Aramark is just completing 10 years at the University of Delaware," Executive Vice President David Hollowell said. "Both the University and Aramark have valued the successful partnership that has developed over the years. The donation of the Aramark Chair is yet another example of Aramark's commitment to the University and its programs, for which the University is very grateful."

DeMicco joined the UD faculty as chairperson of HRIM in January, coming from Pennsylvania State University.

His research focuses on management solutions to labor and food issues in hospitality. He has published extensively, is coauthor of Contemporary Management Theory: Controlling and Analyzing Costs in Foodservice Operations, now in its fourth edition, and serves on the editorial board of the Hospitality Research Journal.

A graduate of the State University of New York at Plattsburg, DeMicco received his master's and doctoral degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and has taught and carried out research in Europe and the Caribbean.

Wise came to UD in 1988 as founding director of the HRIM program after a career associated with the military where he was in charge of the operation of 670 Army clubs and hotels and was inducted into the International Military Club Executive Association Hall of Fame.

A fellow of the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association, Wise received its Lamp of Knowledge Award for Outstanding Educator in 1992.

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, he received his M.B.A. degree in food marketing from Michigan State University.

Photo by KATHY FLICKINGER