Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Founded in 1989 at Cornell University, the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) is a non-profit, student-run, American organization of more than 1,000 students. NSMH addresses issues of diversity and multiculturalism as well as career development for hospitality students. It utilizes a range of workshops, events and other programming to link college students with industry professionals, corporate sponsors, advisors and mentors, and other productive supports. The heart of NSMH’s mission is to “[e]ducate in order to aid in the recruitment, retention, support, and advancement of minority students in the hospitality industry,” and its aim is to transform today’s hospitality students into tomorrow’s leaders. The primary purpose of this study is to analyze how effectively NSMH is achieving its mission. This will be achieved through an analysis of the related research literature, a review of campus NSMH chapter and other institutional articles, and a close reading of personal stories of NSMH students and alumni via social media and other sources. The goal ultimately is to amplify and promote the powerful work of NSMH and to highlight the need for more organizations to engage in the critical work of increasing diversity in the hospitality profession.