Robert C. Ford University of Central Florida, USA
Robert C. Ford (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is professor emeritus of management in the
College of Business Administration (COBA) of the University of Central Florida (UCF) where
he taught management of service organizations. He joined UCF as the chair of its hospitality
department. He was also the COBA Associate Dean for Graduate and External Programs.
Bob has authored and coauthored numerous publications in both top research and practitioner
journals. He has served on several editorial boards including Cornell Hospitality Quarterly,
British Journal of Management, Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, Journal of
Convention and Event Tourism, and Journal of Service Management. Currently, he is associate
editor of Organizational Dynamics. He has also published several books including Managing the
Guest Experience in Hospitality, Achieving Service Excellence: Strategies for Health Care, Managing
Destination Marketing Organizations, and The Fun Minute Manager.
Bob has participated actively in many professional organizations. He has served the
Academy of Management (AOM) as editor of The Academy of Management Executive, Director
of Placement, board member of the HRM and Careers divisions, Division Chair for both its
Management History and its Management Education and Development divisions, and as a member
and chair of its Ethics Adjudication Committee. Bob has served the Southern Management
Association (SMA) in every elective office including that of president. He was a founding member
and Chair of the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration and
served on the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program.
Bob has been recognized for his service by many organizations. He received the
Distinguished Service Award from AOM’s MED, the Richard Hodgett’s Distinguished Career
Award from Management History, and SMA’s Distinguished Service Award and was elected
to SMA Fellows. In recognition of his service to hospitality education, Bob was given the Paul
Brown Award by the Florida Hotel and Lodging Association. He was also twice awarded a W.
James Whyte Research Fellow by the University of Queensland.