The Sustainable Hospitality Management program at CSUMB is committed to reaching out to area high schools and community colleges to help prepare the next generation of hospitality and tourism leaders. Recently, Program Executive Director, Dr. Paige Viren, presented to six different classes at Marina High School's Culinary program.

Dr. Viren shared her own experiences and adventures in travel to inspire and educate students about the exciting and diverse career opportunities available in the hospitality and tourism industry. Dr. Viren highlighted the four main career paths in the industry, including Travel & Tourism, Lodging, Food & Beverage, and Event Management. She explained that the hospitality and tourism industry is one of the world's largest industries, employing one in 11 people in the world. Students were encouraged to ask themselves, "Where will travel take you?" and consider pursuing a career in this dynamic field.

In addition to the outreach efforts at Marina High School, SHM lead faculty member Dr. Angel Gonzalez supported campus tours with students from Watsonville Charter School Diamond Technical Institute and participated in High School Migrant Youth Day in Watsonville and the LatinX Business Students Club from Cabrillo College. SHM major, Marina Melgar, provided Cabrillo College students with a student perspective during their visits.

The Sustainable Hospitality Management program at CSUMB is dedicated to preparing the next generation of hospitality and tourism leaders through hands-on experiences and outreach efforts. By sharing their passion for the industry with high school and community college students, the SHM program is inspiring future leaders to pursue careers in this exciting and dynamic field.