ESU HRTM Students Recognized with Best Poster Award at Conference

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on April 10, 2024, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University student Gianna DiLauro, a senior studying hospitality, recreation, and tourism management (HRTM) from Stroudsburg, Pa., and Fredrick “Chuck” Meitner, Ph.D., assistant professor of HRTM, attended the 2024 International Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) Northeast North America Federation Conference April 4-6 at the University of Southern Maine.

At the conference, DiLauro received the Best Poster Award for research she did, with Dr. Meitner, exploring the nuanced dynamics between psychological ownership and attachment theory and loyalty within private clubs. “Gianna’s accomplishment defies convention as poster presentations of this caliber are typically associated with graduate students,” Dr. Sylvester Williams, Dean of ESU’s College of Business and Management said. “This accolade not only underscores Gianna’s exceptional talent but also highlights the pivotal role played by the ESU Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (S.U.R.E.) grant in supporting her endeavors.”

Awarded in 2023, the S.U.R.E. grant facilitated DiLauro’s research journey, empowering her with resources to delve deep into data analytics techniques, including R programming. “Gianna’s achievement stands as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring ESU HRTM scholars, affirming the invaluable contributions undergraduates can make,” Dr. Williams said.