New professor brings behavioral and social science perspective to Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism

With a diverse background in the tourism industry and college-level instruction, Robert “Rob” Gip, Ph.D., brings new perspectives on hospitality and tourism leadership to his position as an assistant professor in the Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

Gip is integrating his research and teaching interests to benefit the department and its students across the domains of human resources management, organizational behavior, leadership, employee health and well-being, and cross-cultural and community studies.   

“We are fortunate to have recruited a talent such as Dr. Gip into our department who brings depth of knowledge in the behavioral and social sciences, public administration and hospitality management,” said Brian King, Ph.D., head of the Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism. “He is providing the department with new perspectives and insights into hospitality and tourism leadership, particularly about how psychological safety, knowledge sharing and proactive work behaviors contribute to service organizations.”  

Gip earned his doctorate in hospitality administration from the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston. He earned a master’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on behavioral and social sciences, and a certificate in event management, all from Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, Orlando.

Experience in service and hospitality industries

Gip’s early professional experience included roles as assistant cafe and bakery manager and day spa manager. After this, he was a logistics coordinator at Lowe & Behold in Orlando, a golf attendant at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, an event concierge at Hyatt Orlando and a human services worker at Tacachale Developmental Disability Center in Gainesville.

He said a common thread through all of these experiences was his desire to help others, develop a positive work environment, and to identify and fulfill client needs.

“Throughout my industry tenure, my goal has consistently been to ensure that hospitality and tourism organizations prioritize the well-being and value of guests but, more importantly, their employees, as this directly affects their ability to provide high-quality service,” Gip said. 

Gip said he is appreciative of the warm welcome and support he has received from members of the department who are renowned in their respective fields and roles.

“The support I’ve received from the department, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Texas A&M in general has been invaluable, and I hope to reflect and embody this support in my research and teaching,” he said. “I plan to use this opportunity to enhance my research, teaching and service with the goal of adding meaningful contributions to the already impressive track record of achievements of the department.”

Hospitality and tourism teaching experience

At the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Gip was a teaching assistant for multiple undergraduate courses, including Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism, Hospitality and Tourism Marketing and Guest Services Management. He also taught undergraduate human resource management courses for hybrid in-person and online classroom sessions at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership.

At Texas A&M, he is scheduled to teach Global Communities and Diverse Populations in Hospitality and Tourism in the spring.

‘My teaching philosophy revolves around creating a dynamic classroom community where knowledge is shared between students and myself,” he said. “I aim to blend engaging content with adaptable teaching methods to foster motivation through student-centered project-based learning that promotes engagement and a sense of fun throughout the class.”

Gip said an important goal in his teaching will be to recognize and respect individual differences that can provide new perspectives for classmates and influence student interactions throughout their academic and professional careers.

“This approach promotes fairness, cohesion, reciprocity and honesty in the educator-student relationship and among students, which enhances their education and better prepares them for hospitality careers,” Gip said  “I aspire to make a positive impact and be a part of each student’s success story.”

Further academic activities and affiliations  

In the capacity of invited lecturer or presenter, Gip has shared his recreation and tourism related research on reliability, validity, leadership and effective employee performance management.

He has refereed numerous journal articles and is an editorial board member for the international journal Tourism, Culture and Communication. He also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for the International Journal of Hospitality Management, International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Administration, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management and International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.

At the University of Central Florida, Gip was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the National Association for Catering and Events.