Faculty Bios

Leonard A Jackson, Ph.D., Hospitality Program Director and Professor of Hospitality Management
MBA, MS, MSE, MAcc
CHAE, CHTP, CHIA, CATHA, CHE

Dr. Jackson is the founding Director for the Hospitality Management program in the Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University. He has over 30 years of corporate and academic experience and has worked for industry leaders such as Hyatt Corporation and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. His academic expertise encompasses the areas of real estate finance and asset management; lodging operations and strategic management; business development; financial management and control; feasibility analysis; revenue management and pricing; auditing and entrepreneurial studies. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Jackson held senior positions and acquired extensive international experience in all major sectors of the hospitality and tourism industry, which included positions in accounting and finance; auditing; feasibility analysis; asset management and operations management. He also co-founded and managed his own venture.

Dr. Jackson earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) specializing in hospitality and tourism administration from Oklahoma State University;  Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (MS) from the University of Florida;  Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Guelph in Canada; Master of Science (MS) in Management Information Systems from Oklahoma State University; Master of Accounting (MAcc) from Florida Atlantic University; Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree from Ryerson University/Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, Canada and; diplomas (Associate of Arts degrees)from George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology, in Toronto Canada.  He also completed Postdoctoral studies in finance, accounting, and entrepreneurship at the University of Florida.

Dr. Jackson also holds the following professional certifications: Certificate, Sustainable Investing, Harvard Business School; Certificate, Real Estate Investing Strategies, Columbia University; Certificate in Blockchain Technologies: Business Innovation and Application from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Certificates in Hotel Real Estate Investments, Asset Management and Hotel Revenue Management from Cornell University; Certificate in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Analytics (CAHTA), and Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) from CoStar-Smith Travel Research; and a Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance & Security from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Jackson is also certified by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AH&LA) as a Certified Hospitality Educator.

Dr. Jackson has also generated over fifty intellectual contributions and presented his work at numerous academic and industry conferences. He is also the recipient of research awards and excellence in teaching awards at the university, college, and department levels. In addition to his academic and corporate endeavors, Dr. Jackson has been involved in executive development programs in Latin America and the Caribbean region. He has also consulted with and executed executive and professional development workshops for national and global organizations including InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG). He also served as a visiting professor of asset management and real estate finance at ESSEC Business School in France, and the University of Southern California (USC). 

Melih Madanoglu, Ph.D., Ph.D., Michael A. Leven Endowed Chair and Professor of Hospitality

Melih Madanoglu is Michael A. Leven Endowed Chair and Professor in Hospitality Management in M.A. Leven School of Management, Entrepreneurship, & Hospitality. Prior to joining Kennesaw State University, he was Associate Professor and Dean’s Distinguished Research Fellow in Hospitality and Tourism Management in College of Business at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Madanoglu earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech University. In his 20-year academic career, he taught hospitality management courses at Virginia Tech University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida Atlantic University (FAU).

Dr. Madanoglu’s research efforts received several awards. At institutional level, he was the recipient of the Florida Gulf Coast University 2009 Junior Faculty Scholarship Excellence Award. This feat was followed by the 2012 Scholar of the Year award in College of Business at FAU in the Assistant Professor category. The apogee of his scholarship at FAU has been the 2018 Florida Atlantic University Scholar of the Year Award in the Associate Professor Category.

Another notable accomplishment is the 2016 Bradford Wiley Memorial Best (Published) Research Paper of the Year Award in hospitality and tourism. This award is given to a superior research publication on a topic relevant to the field of hospitality or tourism management. He was also winner of the Best Paper in Track at the 2016 Southern Management Association (SMA). More recently, he was the recipient of Best Paper Award in Contribution to Conference Theme at the 2020 International Family Enterprise Research Academy.

Dr. Madanoglu serves as the Vice President of International Association of Hospitality Financial Management Education (iAHFME). His publications appeared in renowned journals such as Journal of Retailing, Tourism Management, Small Business Economics, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Small Business Management, International Journal of Hospitality Management, and International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. He is the Research Methodology Editor of the Service Industries Journal. He also serves on the editorial boards of International Journal of Hospitality Management, International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, and International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Tourism Economics and several other journals.

Jonathan Brown, Lecturer

Mr. Brown's educational background is with the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, where he has earned a BBA in Management as well as a Master’s in Business administration. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Hospitality Management at Iowa State University and his research interests include Experiential Learning within Hospitality Education, Hospitality Internship Experiences, Economic Impact of the Craft Beverage Industry, and Program Evaluation within Hospitality Education. As a lecturer with the Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality program at Kennesaw State University, he has taught multiple subjects ranging from Beverage Management to F&B Purchasing to Strategic Hospitality Management.  Before entering academia, Mr. Brown spent 15 years managing hospitality businesses ranging from family-owned operations to large multi-national corporations; these businesses included Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Cabernet Steakhouse, World of Beer, and HMS Host.

Sheryl Ehlers, Part-Time Instructor of Hospitality Management

Graduate Degree(s)
*Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Auburn University 

*Master of Science in Hospitality Management from Florida International University 

Sheryl Ehlers is an accomplished hospitality and sales professional with over 30 years of success driving growth, managing strategic partnerships, and leading high-performing sales teams in the hospitality and event planning industry. Known for her creative approach to marketing and deep expertise in contract negotiation and client relations, Sheryl has consistently delivered exceptional results across renowned brands, including Marriott, Sheraton, Lake Lanier Islands, and the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center.

Throughout her career, she has excelled in developing sales strategies that align with market trends, training emerging talent, and enhancing brand visibility through industry engagement. Her leadership is evidenced by numerous accolades, such as the Crestline Hotels & Resorts Sales Manager of the Year and, the Stephen Styron Award from the Georgia Society of Association Executives. She was also recently recognized as Sales Champion for her hotels with the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association.

An active industry contributor, Sheryl has held key leadership roles in organizations such as GSAE, Meeting Planners International, and Pace Cetters, where her passion for mentorship and community service shines. She holds a CMP certification and recently earned a Master of Science in Hospitality Management from Florida International University, building on her undergraduate degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Auburn University.

Sheryl’s unique blend of strategic insight, hands-on operational knowledge, and commitment to excellence makes her a trusted leader and invaluable asset in the hospitality and events industry.

Steve Mayers, MBA, IAP, C.M, Part-Time Instructor of Hospitality Management

Vice President of Product Development and Strategy, NetServ

Steve Mayers is the Vice President of Product Development and Strategy at NetServ, a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for the Aviation industry. With a deep-seated passion for enhancing operational efficiencies and customer experiences through cutting-edge technology, Steve brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success to his role at NetServ.

Prior to joining NetServ, Steve served as the Assistant General Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), where he was instrumental in overseeing the airport's comprehensive marketing strategies and customer experience enhancements. Under his leadership, ATL solidified its reputation as a global leader in airport operations, serving over 100 million passengers annually.

Steve's career is marked by a steadfast commitment to operational excellence and strategic innovation. He has been at the forefront of numerous initiatives that leveraged data analytics and customer feedback to drive strategic decisions, significantly improving the passenger experience and operational throughput.

At NetServ, Steve is responsible for leading the development of new products and strategies that meet the evolving needs of the Aviation sector. His role involves spearheading efforts to bring innovative products to market, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring that product development aligns with the company's vision and customer expectations.

Steve holds an MBA in Finance from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Science in Tourism & Hospitality Management from Temple University. His professional journey is underpinned by a strong foundation in leadership, strategic planning, and a relentless pursuit of service excellence.

Steve is excited to leverage his experience and insights to help NetServ and its clients achieve new levels of success in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven industry.

Anittra Williams, Part-Time Instructor of Management, Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality

Graduate Degree(s)
MA in Organizational Management; University of Phoenix

Director of HR, Area Director of HR and Corporate Director of HR; Omni Hotels Corporation

What I hope students take away from my hospitality class is a deep understanding that hospitality is more than just service—it's about creating meaningful, lasting experiences.

Maya Jones, Lecturer of Hospitality Management

Graduate Degree(s)
Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Master’s Degree in Global Hospitality Management and a B.B.A. in Hospitality Management

Maya began her career in hotel operations with Marriott and Omni Hotels & Resorts, where she held progressive leadership roles in front office, food and beverage, and fine dining management, including overseeing multimillion-dollar outlets at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center and the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Her corporate experience includes serving as a Talent Coach and Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist with Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), where she co-founded the XLR8 General Manager Training Program and led initiatives in leadership development, compliance training, and organizational onboarding. Maya is currently a full-time Lecturer in Hospitality Management at the Michael A. Leven School of Management, Entrepreneurship and Hospitality.

Andrea Daniels, Part-Time Instructor of Hospitality Management

Andrea Daniels is an experienced hospitality executive with more than 20 years driving commercial growth, global distribution strategies and content innovation across travel, tourism, and hospitality. She currently serves as Global Director for IHG Hotels & Resorts. Her career spans leadership roles in distribution partnerships, sales strategy, branding, global distribution systems, online travel agencies, commercial and marketing.   Andrea is known for building and leading high performing global teams across EMEAA, APAC and Americas, and forging strategic partnerships that accelerate growth.  

Her research interests include branding, tourism and hospitality events, international tourism, artificial intelligence, sustainable travel, emerging markets, strategic marketing, gaming and distribution channels.

She holds a BS in tourism and hospitality management from Fox School of Business at Temple University and a MS in global hospitality management from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. Andrea serves as an adjunct professor, board advisor, mentor for future leaders of hospitality, and an active contributor to the industry overall.

With a passion for community service, Andrea focuses a great deal on giving back to the community through volunteer efforts and helping to shape the future of the hospitality industry.