The Paul Wise Executive-in-Residence Fund has been established to honor the founder and chairperson of the Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, who will retire at the end of 2000.

In announcing the fund, President David P. Roselle cited Wise for "his leadership in building the HRIM program," which has attracted a "talented group of faculty, staff and students to the University of Delaware and has been instrumental in the national recognition of the program by the industry."

To recognize Wise for his "excellent work...his persistent encouragement of the professional development of HRIM faculty, staff and students," Roselle said, "we wanted to do something that was consistent with his deeply held convictions about the importance for our HRIM program of close and enduring links with professional leaders in the hospitality industry. "We can accomplish all these goals through the establishment of the Paul Wise Executive-in- Residence Endowment Fund," Roselle said.

The fund will sponsor an on-campus program by the Wise executive, who will personify current best practice in hospitality management. The executive will join with the department in educational activities that take advantage of his or her background and perspective on the hospitality and tourism field by giving lectures, conducting workshops and panel discussions, presenting case studies and advising faculty and staff. The Wise executive will discuss new concepts, industry issues and encourage innovation and leadership.

Wise graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management and received his master's degree in food marketing from Michigan State University. He was associated with the military for many years, and, during his last 10 years before coming to UD in 1988, he was responsible for the operation of 670 Army clubs and hotels that produced annual revenues of more than $300 million.

An active member of numerous hotel and restaurant associations, Wise serves as vice chairman of the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau and on the board of the Delaware Restaurant Association. He serves on the Certification Commission and Education Committee of the Educational Institute, American Hotel and Motel Association, and is a trustee. Among his awards, he was the Pennsylvania State University Hotel and Restaurant Society Alumnus of the Year, is a member of the International Military Club Executive Association Hall of Fame and received the Educational Institute's Lamp of Knowledge Award.

This fall, he was named to the Hall of Fame for Outstanding Individual Achievement in the 2000 Governor's Tourism Awards.

For more information about contributing to the Paul Wise Executive-in-Residence Endowment Fund, contact Greg Johnson, University development, at 831-0764 or e-mail at [gregj@udel.edu].