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K-State Today

July 5, 2017

Shanklin travels to participate in Asia Pacific Tourism Conference, interacts with K-State alumni

Submitted by Kelsey Peterson

Carol Shanklin with other scholars from the APTA

Carol Shanklin, dean of the Graduate School and professor in the Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Health, was one of three invited scholars to participate at the 23rd Asian Pacific Tourism Conference in Busan, Korea June 18-21, 2017.

The Asia Pacific Tourism Association is an internationally acclaimed association in the field of tourism and hospitality. A conference is held annually and an Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research is published. The journal's research papers are distributed worldwide.

As an invited scholar, Shanklin moderated the Graduate Student Panel, "21st Century Knowledge for Hospitality and Tourism: Preparing Graduate Students for Diverse Careers." She also served on the Best Paper Selection Committee and moderated a research session on Food and Agri-tourism.

"I was honored to serve as an invited scholar at the Asian Pacific Tourism Conference and to interact with tourism and hospitality faculty and students from across Asia," Shanklin said.

Jessica Elmore, associate director of diversity programs in the K-State Alumni Association, and Kedric Elmore accompanied Shanklin on the trip. The group hosted three alumni events — two in Seoul and one in Busan. The group interacted with more than 43 alumni, former and current K-State faculty and two current doctoral students.

"I was particularly excited to network with K-State alumni at the conference and the alumni events," Shanklin said. "The alumni were positive about their experiences while attending K-State and have had successful careers."

"The opportunity to connect and engage with our alumni in South Korea is a part of the Alumni Association's mission to connect with our international alumni," Elmore said. "Kansas State has a long history of graduating international students and we must have strong alumni connections. The opportunity to travel with K-State administration and faculty is a crucial component when engaging with our alumni and I am happy that I had another successful trip with Dean Shanklin; her support and connections truly making a difference."

The aims of the Asia Pacific Tourism Association are to facilitate quality tourism and hospitality research, especially, in Asia-Pacific area, to share research achievements and to exchange ideas between academics and their counterparts in the business world. The association's annual conference has been held now for more than two decades and has established itself as one of the most important tourism/hospitality conference in the region.