Mary Dawson Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, Eric Hilton Distinguished Chair Professor

Education
B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management, M.H.M., Ed.D., University of Houston. CHE.

Expertise & Research Interests

• Restaurant Operations
• Training and Development in Diversity
• Hospitality Culture

Career Highlights
Dr. Mary Dawson is a distinguished educator, administrator and researcher in the 
field of hospitality management. She currently serves as the Senior Associate Dean 
of Faculty Affairs at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at 
the University of Houston, where she has dedicated over two decades to advancing 
hospitality education through innovative curriculum development, strategic planning 
and inclusive faculty mentoring.

Dr. Dawson holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of 
Houston, where she also earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Hospitality 
Management. Her academic focus centers on organizational culture, diversity 
management and workforce development within the hospitality industry. She joined 
the college in 1996 as a lecturer and steadily progressed through the academic ranks 
to become a Professor and Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs.

An accomplished scholar, Dr. Dawson has published more than 50 peer-reviewed 
articles and book chapters on topics ranging from leadership to workplace culture. She 
serves on editorial boards for leading hospitality journals and has received numerous 
accolades, including multiple Best Paper Awards, the University of Houston Alumni 
Teaching Excellence Award and the 50 in 5 National Research Recognition Award.

Dr. Dawson began her career in industry, managing operations for Pappas Restaurants 
and McDonald’s, experiences that shaped her practical insights and teaching 
philosophy. Today, she continues to bridge academic excellence with real-world 
relevance, mentoring the next generation of hospitality leaders.