The Daily Toreador - Student Newspaper of Texas Tech

Issue date: 7/25/08 Section: News

The director of Texas Tech's Department of Hospitality Services was appointed a position on the executive committee of a national organization in his field.

Sam Bennett was appointed to be president-elect of the National Association of College and University Food Services as a part of the association's 50th anniversary celebration in Washington D.C. Bennett was elected July 18 at the General Membership Assembly.

While Bennett serves on the committee, he will continue to serve as the director of Tech's Department of Hospitality Services.

NACUFS consists of more than 625 professionals from universities across the nation who are involved with food services, Bennett said. Its regions also extend to Canada and Mexico.

"It is an organization with exchange of ideas and a wealth of information," he said.

Bennett has been an active member of NACUFS for more than 20 years and is the second administrator from Tech to serve on the association's executive committee. He will serve a three-year, rotating term on the board as the president-elect during the first year, president in the second year and past president in the third year. Past presidents within the organization continue actively serving through advocacy and travel.

Bennett said the president-elect position is a learning process and involves preparation to take on the position of the president.

Alan Cushman, administrator in merchandising and business development for the Department of Hospitality, said the president-elect position not only benefits Bennett, but also the department and the university.

"It's going to help us better show what we do for the university," he said. "It is going to create more work for everybody, but I think it's an amount of work that everyone welcomes and looks forward to chipping in and helping."

Before being elected, nominees usually are a NACUFS member in good standing, said Kirk Rodriguez, unit associate director of retail at Tech's Department of Hospitality Services. It also benefits nominees to have leadership work within the association and general knowledge and experience in food services.

In the past, Bennett served as the chair of association's Finance and Education Committee and as its regional president.

Rodriguez said Bennett already is instrumental to and involved with both the NACUFS and university food services.

As president, Rodriguez said, Bennett will be the voice and spokesman of NACUFS and will visit other universities nationwide.

Continued...

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