In 2016 a leading Oregon hotelier family made a gift establishing an endowed faculty position fund within the recently launched hospitality management program at OSU-Cascades. The $500,000 gift was donated by Robin and Curt Baney, owners of Oxford Suites properties in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and the OXFORD hotel in Bend, the TripAdvisor #5 ranked U.S. Hotel for 2016.

In 2018 the Baneys made a second $500,000 gift to the fund. “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Oxford Suites brand and the 10th anniversary of the Oxford Hotel, we are proud to advance the excellence already underway within the hospitality management program at OSU-Cascades,” said Curt Baney, Oxford president and chief executive officer. “The program is growing in both quality and reputation, and producing the innovative and technology-savvy employees our industry needs.”

The hospitality management program was created in response to overwhelming support from local and state hospitality leaders who sought a bachelor’s degree program in order to develop a strong workforce while offering employees’ professional development opportunities for Oregon’s growing hospitality industry. Prior to the creation of the degree at OSU-Cascades, a bachelor’s level hospitality management program had not existed in Oregon for more than 20 years. 

Students in the program study business management, service delivery and operations management, food and beverage operations, technology within the hospitality sector, and entrepreneurship.

Current Faculty Holder

Todd Montgomery