Hammond Earns International Top Reviewer Award

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Rhonda Hammond

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Rhonda Hammond, an assistant professor in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, received the Outstanding Scientific Paper Reviewer Award at the recent International Council on Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Education annual conference.

 Hammond teaches hospitality management in the human nutrition and hospitality innovation curriculum in the School of Human Environmental Sciences.

“It’s an honor to be nominated and to receive this award,” said Hammond. “It’s great to represent our program and to be included among the caliber of researchers representing the other categories.”

She was recognized in the food service category for reviewing papers by other researchers, and providing expert opinion and suggestions on whether or not the work would be accepted for publication or presentation. She also provided suggestions for improvement and modification.

“The council utilizes the ‘blind, double-peer’ reviewed process,” said Hammond. “Papers and presentations must successfully be accepted by at least two reviewers to be published at the conference. There are several categories for awards, but my area of expertise has primarily been in food service. I serve as a reviewer for submissions to the council. This year, I was more heavily involved in the process, and conducted several more reviews and provided a lot more feedback across several topics related to food service.”

Hammond received the award at the conference in San Diego on Aug. 1. She earned her associate’s degree in culinary arts from Ozarka College in 2002, her bachelor’s in culinary arts from the Nicholls State University Chef John Folse Culinary Institute in 2004, her master’s in hospitality and tourism management from Purdue University in 2007 and her doctorate in hospitality administration from Texas Tech University in 2010.

Founded in 1946, the International Council on Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Education is the global advocate of hospitality and tourism education for schools, colleges and universities offering programs in hotel and restaurant management, foodservice management and culinary arts.