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ALUMNA JAMIE DEHN FINDS FULFILLING ROLE WITH CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALITY EDUCATION INITIATIVE

By Jenna Arocha (RPTA ’17)

RPTA alumna Jamie Dehn (2013) has found a fulfilling job working for the California State University (CSU) system as program coordinator for the Hospitality Management Education Initiative (HMEI). After graduating with a concentration in event management, Dehn worked at UC Davis as an event coordinator for the College of Agriculture. During her time there, she planned a commencement ceremony for more than 1,400 students and several other events for the college. “I really enjoyed working in the university setting and found myself looking for jobs at other universities once my contract with UC Davis ended,” she said. After reaching out to RPTA Department Head Bill Hendricks for job recommendations, Dehn landed her current job in the CSU.

Dehn’s focus is helping to elevate hospitality management as a profession by gaining recognition for the field’s existing programs within the CSU system. Former CSU Chancellor Charles Reed established the HMEI to conduct economic impact reports on different areas of study offered within the CSU. Currently the basic function of the HMEI is to “give unity to the 14 hospitality programs offered in the CSU system,” said Dehn. To achieve this, Dehn assists with marketing the hospitality management programs by planning career expos for Northern and Southern California CSU campuses and for high school outreach programs at which students can tour multiple venues and hear guest speakers from the industry. These efforts are intended to ignite a spark in students to want to pursue a career in the hospitality industry to make it bigger and stronger.

Dehn tells upperclassmen and graduating students that finding a job is hard work. “Work for it and put in the time because finding the job of your dreams is so worth it,” she said. “Every job will shape you and put you on your path, and you will learn more than you realize at the time.” She also stressed staying in contact with RPTA faculty members for their knowledgeable and connections and to save business cards from industry professionals “because you never know when you’ll need to get in contact with someone.”

The RPTA Department is thrilled with Dehn’s accomplishments and wishes her the best of luck in the future.

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