| Faculty Member | Biography |
|---|---|
Peter Briscoe Department Chair | Peter has taught at the post-secondary level for more than a decade, with faculty appointments at Okanagan University-College, Thompson Rivers University, Vancouver Island University, and College of New Caledonia. He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Southern Cross University, specializing in hotel and tourism management. Peter has also held numerous management positions with hotels and food service organizations. His passion is people and their success, and he prides himself in expecting the best from both himself and others. |
Ashraf Hassib Faculty | Ashraf is a seasoned educator in the field of Hospitality and Tourism Management, having taught at esteemed institutions such as Vancouver Island University, University of Guelph, Humber College, Centennial College, George Brown College, and Seneca College, in addition to his alma mater, Helwan University in Egypt. He has also served as a visiting professor at esteemed universities abroad, including Kempton University, Breda University, and Copenhagen Business Academy, and has experience teaching both in-person and online courses at the Munich University of Applied Sciences and Bavarian Virtual University. With a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Hotel Management from Helwan University and Oxford Brookes University respectively, Ashraf's areas of expertise include Revenue Management, Hospitality Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality Operations Management. He also brings a wealth of industry experience to his teaching, having worked at various prestigious international hotels and resorts such as Sheraton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Hilton, and Le Meridien. Email: Ashraf.Hassib@viu.ca Tel: 250-740-6133 |
Daniel Starwing Discovery Room Technician | It all began at the age of twelve when my parents took me to the Cannery Seafood Restaurant to celebrate my birthday. I was completely enamored with the experience because it felt like magic. Eleven years later, after receiving a Commerce Degree from the University of British Columbia, I started work at the Cannery Seafood Restaurant and found myself being introduced to the art of fine dining from the very same Servers who helped me to celebrate my twelfth birthday. They shared generously all of their trade secrets. More than 20 years have now passed during which I have undertaken Sommelier training, been a Food and Beverage Director of three high end resorts, the manager of several fine dining restaurants, and a Food and Beverage service consultant for top-tier retirement communities. When it comes to hospitality, my philosophy is: It needs to feel like magic. I teach students to create service magic by mastering practical fine dining techniques while learning about personality theory and employing mediation practices that support the interpersonal skills needed to succeed in Hospitality. When I’m not teaching you can find me road-tripping in my Airstream, hiking with my wife and two dogs and practicing Non-Violent Communication. |
Jonelle Knowles Faculty | Jonelle has a passion for all things Hospitality whether that is enjoying local events and locations here on Vancouver Island, where she was born and raised, or experiencing international travel for work or pleasure. Jonelle has been teaching Tourism and Hospitality since 1998, with courses such as Food and Beverage Management, Conferences and Special Events, Marketing, and Bartending. She enjoys producing events, such as gala wine festivals, dinners and student run events. The hospitality industry embraces a world perspective so every opportunity for travel and meeting people can be considered professional development. Some of Jonelle’s highlights include project work in Vietnam on a Community Based Tourism Project, International Curriculum Development in Tanzania and many student field schools and field trips to Hawaii, Las Vegas, Mexico, Cuba, Whistler and Vancouver. Building on a tourism education and a Hospitality industry career, she went on to complete the Instructor Diploma Program at VCC and a master’s degree with the University of Liverpool, specializing in Services Marketing. Her industry career was mainly in Food and Beverage, working in Resort Hotels, International restaurant chains and small businesses. |
Jean-Guy Robichaud Faculty | Jean-Guy started his career working for high-end hotels and resorts in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec to fulfill his apprenticeships and to complete his Journeyman certifications (Cook, Baker, and Pastry Chef). Jean-Guy also had an opportunity to become a business partner in Patisseries in Quebec City for six years. Passionate about education, Jean-Guy wanted to share his industry and entrepreneurial experience with the next generation of chefs and hoteliers. He became a faculty member at Cambrian College, Ontario, where he created new curriculum and was a program coordinator for the Hotel and Restaurant Management program and the Baking and Pastry Arts program for 15 years. Over the years, Jean-Guy continued his education and obtained a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management at Vancouver Community College and a master’s degree in Tourism Management at Royal Roads University (Victoria, British Columbia). A lifelong learner, Jean-Guy is currently in a Doctorate in Business Administration program, specializing in Higher Education Management at Bath University in England. His thesis focuses on leadership and management of international higher education partnerships between the global North and South. |
Lynda Robinson Faculty | With a Masters Degree in Leadership and Training, certified as an Emotional Intelligence Trainer and Coach (EQ-i 2.0/EQ 360 Certification), Erickson Coaching Level 1 Trainer, Super Host Facilitation certification, and Instructor Diploma credentials, Lynda brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the area of experiential learning methodologies and activities to develop and deliver programs, courses, services to enrich capacity and learning. Employed at Vancouver Island University as a Manager of Career Services for several years, and holding a position as an instructor since 2006, her roles have focused on developing curriculum, programming and providing services to thousands of students in the Hospitality Management program and other disciplines. With a strong connection to the needs of the hospitality industry, Lynda has worked closely with employers to support the professional and personal development of hospitality employees. With over 20 years of direct work and certification/training within the career development field, and a proven ability in educational and workplace training, design of course and programs, using a variety of management and teaching methods, Lynda brings effective skills in evaluating performance in the workplace to ensure organizational goals and objectives are met. |
Jenny Aronson Adjunct Faculty | Chef Jenny Aronson is a graduate of the Vancouver Island University Culinary Arts Program. She was fortunate to receive a practicum placement at Sooke Harbour House where she later apprenticed under Chef Edward Tuson, achieving her Red Seal Certification in 2007. Although she grew up on Thetis Island here in B.C., hers is an international family that loves to cook and eat. Besides her years of experience in fine dining at Sooke Harbour House and elsewhere, she has worked in her sister’s Vietnamese restaurant, in Japanese and Mexican restaurants, and in 2008 she traveled to Europe and cooked in Verduno, Italy. Jennifer has lived in Korea, China and Thailand and has traveled extensively in North America, Europe and Asia. When not teaching or cooking or traveling, she can be found playing badminton and helping to coach the VIU badminton team, and she has played in tournaments in Canada and the U.S. She loves teaching and the reward of the looks of accomplishment on her students’ faces when they achieve success. |
