Department
Hospitality, Tourism & Events
About MSU Denver
MSU Denver enrolls over 16,000 students, where nearly 60% are first generation and over 55% are students of color. Located in downtown Denver, we are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado. As the third largest institution of higher education in Colorado and the only institution with an open access mission, MSU Denver is a model university for today’s college students. The University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. MSU Denver is particularly interested in applicants who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented and historically minoritized groups.
About the School of Hospitality
The School of Hospitality prepares students for success in the diverse field of hospitality management, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, breweries, event planning, and tourism. This comprehensive program develops future leaders with the technical, practical, and soft skills needed to excel. It emphasizes leadership, ethical practices, and offers opportunities for growth, travel, and diverse work environments. Learn more: https://www.msudenver.edu/hospitality/
About the Day Leadership Academy
The Day Leadership Academy (DLA) has years of organizational leadership, strategic management, and hospitality business development experience with a footing in academics. DLA’s work regarding consulting, upskilling, researching, analyzing, developing, and training communities’ hospitality professionals and future leaders has advanced us from teaching-based programs to purposeful solutions to communities’ professional development needs. DLA is deliberate in its endeavors to revolutionize community workforce development. We are here for your workforce, management, and leadership professional development. DLA internally connects MSU-Denver School of Hospitality faculty expertise with external experts to develop sustainable and customized solutions to communities’ economic development and hospitality industry needs.
Position Description
The MSU Denver School of Hospitality is inviting applications for a renewable one-year contract as a full-time lecturer in hospitality and coordinator of the Day Leadership Academy. This faculty appointment in the Rita & Navin Dimond Department of Hotel Management will focus on quality teaching, advising and service. This position will include administrative responsibilities to head the Frank and Gina Day Leadership Academy (DLA) as the program coordinator. The role will involve developing a marketing and sales strategy for the program, and will include networking and outreach with the local and regional business community, as well as hospitality professional associations. This is a 12-month appointment.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Teach 9 credit hours per semester (Fall / Spring), which may include teaching evening and/or online classes. This includes a 6-credit teaching release in fall and spring for the administrative responsibilities of leading the DLA. The candidate may opt to teach part of their assigned credit hours over the summer term, or teach the equivalent contact hours in non-credit courses, if student demand allows.
- Coordinate DLA programming and marketing, including but not limited to, course development, instructor recruitment, industry outreach, coordination of regular DLA board meetings, and the organization of industry networking and education events.
- Manage a part time administrative aid who supports the Day Leadership Academy.
Required Qualifications
- Graduate degree in hospitality or a closely related field.
- A minimum of 7 years work experience in the hospitality sector, with a minimum of 2 years in a senior leadership position.
- Experience creating, marketing, delivering and/or selling leadership programming and initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications
- At least one degree in hospitality management.
- Teaching experience at the undergraduate or graduate level, and/or teaching experience within industry associations.
- Extensive local and regional hospitality industry networks.
- Active membership in local, regional and/or national professional hospitality organizations.
- Demonstrated commitment to mentoring and supporting students from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.
Salary for Announcement
The salary range for this position is $75,000 - $85,000 at the Lecturer level. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, education, experience, specialty and training.
MSU Denver offers excellent benefits that include medical, dental, retirement, tuition benefit, free RTD pass, and more. For a brief overview of these options, visit our Benefits section below.
Instructions to Apply
Completed applications must be received by the closing date of Monday, October 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM MST. Internal applicants must apply through their MSU Denver Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs' under the Career tab.
For full consideration, you must include the following documents with your application:
1. Letter of application
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Teaching / training philosophy
4. References. Please include the names and contact information for three professional references.
Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.
Closing Date
Open Until Filled
Posting Representative
Elizabeth Wellington
Posting Representative Email
[email protected]Benefits
The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.
For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf.
The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at[email protected].
Background Checks
Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.
Diversity Statement
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.
We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.
Education