Eric Brown Elected as ICHRIE Director of Membership

Eric Brown, associate professor in the department of apparel, events and hospitality management at Iowa State University, has been elected director of membership for the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE).

ICHRIE is a global organization dedicated to advancing hospitality and tourism education and leadership development.

As director of membership, Brown will focus on member recruitment and retention, improving onboarding and engagement opportunities, and strengthening connections among members beyond the organization’s annual conference.

Brown’s election continues more than a decade of service to ICHRIE. He previously served as Central Federation vice president and president and recently received the organization’s 2025 Faculty Collegiality Award.

“What I value most about ICHRIE is the collaborative and supportive network,” Brown said. “It has helped me build relationships where ideas are shared, partnerships are formed and people support each other’s success.”

He added that his involvement with the organization has helped raise the visibility of Iowa State’s hospitality management program and created networking and professional opportunities for graduate students.

Brown is the Richard Mahoney and Lois Hartman Professor of Hospitality Management and associate chair for undergraduate academic affairs at Iowa State. His research focuses on employee retention, workforce development and organizational culture, with recent emphasis on how automation, artificial intelligence and micro-moments influence employee well-being and career readiness in the hospitality industry. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and frequently presents at national and international conferences.