(December 13, 2010, New Orleans, La.)- A $600,000 gift from Gloria Kabacoff will fund an endowed chair in the University of New Orleans Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration. Matching funds in the amount of $400,000 have completed the process for a one million dollar chair, and UNO will begin a national search to select a distinguished scholar to fill the position.
“This most generous gift by Mrs. Kabacoff makes a substantial contribution to the strength of our faculty at a time of significant growth for the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration, and is representative of her ongoing support since the program’s inception,” said John Williams, interim dean of the College of Business Administration and director of the Kabacoff School.
Gloria Kabacoff is the widow of Lester E. Kabacoff, who joined with other business leaders to encourage the University of New Orleans to establish a hotel-restaurant program in 1975. He was closely involved with the School’s evolution, providing guidance and support. The School is named in his honor.
The Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration provides students with the finest education available by promoting individual growth, developing leadership skills and expanding personal knowledge of the hospitality and tourism industry. Graduates from the master’s program have 100 percent job placement at the time of graduation.