August 13, 2014
LeHew named interim hospitality management, dietetics department head
Melody LeHew, professor in the apparel, textiles and interior design department and former president of the K-State Faculty Senate, has been named interim head of the hospitality management and dietetics department.
The announcement came today from John Buckwalter, dean of the College of Human Ecology.
"Dr. LeHew brings a wealth of experience," he said. "In addition she has served the university and the college in a number of ways, most notably as faculty senate president. I appreciate her willingness to take on this important role and I am confident that she will be able to provide strong leadership until a permanent department head can be selected."
LeHew received her bachelor's and master's degrees in textile and clothing from Ohio State University and her doctorate in retail and consumer science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She joined the K-State faculty in 1996.
Her research focuses on sustainability education and sustainable strategies in soft goods industry.
She also is director of an Agricultural Experiment Station five-year project investigating sustainable apparel design, production, distribution, and consumption, as well as sustainability education; project director of a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Higher Education Challenge Grant large-scale initiative focused on enhancing climate science and sustainability competencies in textile and apparel programs; and a member of the Women's Studies affiliated faculty.
The hospitality management and dietetics department has nearly 550 undergraduate and graduate students. The department offers a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management, a concurrent Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in hospitality management, a minor in hospitality management, a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics online and on campus, a Master of Science in hospitality and dietetics administration, an online Master of Science in dietetics and a doctorate with specialization in hospitality and dietetics administration.
In spring, Jeannie Sneed announced that she would step down as department head.