David Christianson, dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas announced recently that Patti Shock has been named to the Claudine Williams Distinguished Chair within the college.
Shock, an associate professor and chair of the tourism and convention administration department, has been at UNLV since 1988. The Claudine Williams Distinguished Chair is funded by a gift from Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. It is one of three permanent faculty chairs at UNLV established by Harrah's in 1990 to honor William F. Harrah, Michael D. Rose, and Claudine Williams.
Following the announcement Christianson said, "We are honored to name an outstanding educator and industry professional like Patti Shock to this esteemed position. The Claudine Williams Distinguished Chair symbolizes the highest quality of hospitality industry leadership and management."
Claudine Williams, chairman of the boards of American Bancorp of Nevada, American Bank of Commerce, and Harrah's Las Vegas, is a highly respected leader in the Nevada gaming and banking industries. She has served on the Nevada Commission on Tourism and at the national level on the Travel and Tourism Industry Advisory Council to the U.S. Senate. In 1990, she was recognized as a Distinguished Nevadan by the Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada for her extraordinary support of higher education in the state. She was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters by UNLV in 1994. Williams is a founding trustee of the UNLV Foundation and served as chairman from 1983 until 1985. Her many generous donations to the university include an endowed scholarship in honor of her late husband, Shelby G. Williams, and gifts to the campus housing program for which Claudine Williams Residence Hall was named in her honor.
Prior to joining the faculty at UNLV, Shock was an assistant professor and chair of hotel, restaurant and travel administration at Georgia State University in Atlanta from 1979 until 1987. Her career as an educator began with a teaching fellowship at the University of Southern Mississippi where she earned a master of science degree in institution administration and a bachelor of science degree in hotel and restaurant administration. Her professional experience spans 18 years in a variety of hospitality industry positions. Shock was recognized in 1987 as Allied Industry Leader of the Year by the Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association and was also honored with the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education Achievement Award the same year. She received the Sam and Mary Boyd Distinguished Professor Award for Service at UNLV in 1989.
Shock explained that her primary objective as the Claudine Williams Chair is to use the additional resources to increase internship opportunities for students in the industry.
Privately funded faculty chair positions are traditionally awarded to educators who have distinguished themselves in their field of study. The honor includes a salary supplement, travel allowance, and funding for a graduate assistant and administrative support.
