David A. Edwards is the founding program director for the Culinary Arts, Tourism and Hospitality Management program at St. Thomas University, Miami, where he also serves on the university’s Academic Policy Committee.
Prior to joining the faculty at STU, Professor Edwards was the chair of the College of Hospitality Management at Johnson & Wales University’s North Miami campus where he served on the university’s Curriculum Approval Committee, and the Committee on Academic Rank, as well as the College of Hospitality Management’s Curriculum and Outcomes Assessment committees.
Professor Edwards has a diverse professional background, spanning the sports media, the hotel industry and academia. His media career included work in both newspaper and radio, while his hotel experience saw him holding positions in Property Operations, Public Relations and Rooms Operations, working with internationally renowned resort companies, along with a stint in the limited service segment.
Edwards holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Hospitality Management from Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, as well as a Diploma in Teaching from Church Teachers’ College, Mandeville, Jamaica. Additionally, he has earned and maintained the Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) designation since 2012 and is also certified in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) and Customer Service Gold.
Professor Edwards is a member of the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, & Institutional Education (ICHRIE), the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) and the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). He also serves on the board of directors of the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Miami-Dade chapter and on the advisory boards of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Educational Institute (AHLEI) and Sandals Resort International’s Corporate University. Among his areas of specialization are Resort and Facilities Operations, Tourism Policy and Strategic & Performance Management. Professor Edwards has presented papers on a range of topics at several national and international conferences, including the AHLEI’s Global Summit on Hospitality Education and Development in China.
Professor Edwards has spearheaded the development of several new academic programs. Among them, the Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts, Tourism & Hospitality Management at STU and at JWU – the Bachelor of Science in Golf Management, Bachelor of Science in Cruise Management and Master of Science in Sports Leadership, as well as the re-write of the Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. Recognized by South Florida’s Legacy Magazine as a top black educator, he believes in a global, multi-cultural approach to education and has lead international educational experiences to Australia, Ireland, Portugal and South Africa.
