And it didn't take her long to recognize it. "The very first night in the classroom, I knew," said Leone (Wheaton), assistant professor of Hotel and Lodging Management at College of DuPage. Leone's moment occurred while she was a part-time C.O.D. faculty member, teaching a humble Housekeeping class. "I just felt comfortable in the class. I knew that this was where I wanted to be. I was happy." Now a full-time faculty member, Leone draws on a hotel management career that spanned a variety of cities, from Nashville, Dallas and Tucson, to Washington, D.C. "To advance, you were asked to move to another location, typically out of state," Leone explained. And with each move came new promotions and opportunities. For example, she initiated a "butler service" on specialty floors in a luxury Dallas hotel; trained at a Washington, D.C., hotel that hosted a presidential inaugural ball; and opened a hotel in Nashville. Her ability to mine varied work experiences at each stop and then translate them into classroom lessons has proven to be a virtual mother lode for her C.O.D. students. Teaching, Leone said, was always in the back of her mind. "It was something that I excelled at when I managed hotels. I always tried really hard to grow my people and to make sure that they were developing and that they would do the best they could for what they wanted and for what the hotel needed." So when George Macht, C.O.D. professor/coordinator of the Hospitality Administration program, came calling with a part-time teaching position while she worked as sales manager at the DuPage Convention and Tourism Bureau, it was an easy decision. "I was able to take this industry, which I absolutely love, and teaching that I love as well, and put them together. It was the best of both worlds." This love of teaching has proved successful for Leone, who was cited by her students, peers and deans as C.O.D.'s 2007-2008 Overall Outstanding Faculty Member. Representing the Business and Technology division, Leone received a $1,000 award from the C.O.D. Foundation, which annually recognizes outstanding teaching achievement at the Midwest's largest single-campus community college. The teaching philosophy of this outstanding faculty member starts with establishing a relationship among herself and her students. Taking a cue from one of her professors at Purdue University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional and Tourism Management, Leone begins to connect with her charges the very first day of class. "Being able to connect with my professors helped me and I need to do the same for my students," she said. "I try really hard to get to know them. At the very beginning of each class, I learn their names and begin to understand why they are in my class. I find out what motivates them. "The more I get to know them, the better I am in understanding what they need. Each individual needs something different from their teacher, and it is up to the educator to figure out what that is." The give and take in each class energizes Leone. "I love the dynamics that occur, the questions they ask me. I love it when they challenge me because this prompts me to study more than I ever have to know the industry. They challenge me to go out and learn everything I can so that I can stay one step ahead of them." Staying one step ahead of her students takes a major effort, particularly at C.O.D., according to Leone. "A good portion of my students already work in the industry, so when they come to class and share their experiences, it just makes for a rich learning environment." One year, Leone turned the tables and organized a rich, hands-on experience for a group of her students. They entered the Tabletop Competition at the National Housewares Show and won first-place honors with their "French Bistro" entry. The students were later featured on Home and Garden Television (HGTV). Leone's excellence as a teacher, mentor and connector stretches beyond the classroom in other areas as well. Not only does she maintain active membership in professional organizations, such as the International Food Service Executives Association, she invites her students to accompany her to meetings. Seeing these same students and others working in area restaurants and hotels after graduation provides great satisfaction for Leone. "In restaurants and hotels throughout DuPage County, I'm starting to see C.O.D. graduates - the ones I taught - now in management positions. They say to me: 'look at my new title,' or 'I love what we did in class because it really relates,' or, 'boy, you were right.' "It's amazing to see how they have grown and changed. I had one student in class who was so quiet. He wasn't sure this industry was for him and was a little insecure. Now he is managing an area hotel." One poignant moment touched Leone deeply. She had asked a former student, now a front officer supervisor for an area hotel, to write a letter of recommendation for Leone, who has been nominated for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Outstanding Faculty Member Award. When the student, who immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine four years ago, dropped off her letter to Leone, she brought along her mother who was visiting from the Ukraine. "She was so excited to introduce me to her mother," Leone said. "That to me was so touching. When you know that she talked about me with her family, and that I influenced her, and she would feel so connected to the institution to bring along her mother was amazing." In her letter, the student, Victoria Kamyshnikova Roe, wrote: "I am where I am because of Professor Leone's inspiration and direction. I am just one of her stories, one small part of her legacy at C.O.D. I am just proud to recommend her for your prestigious award, and I know that as I go forward in my personal and professional life, I will be a better, more skilled and enlightened person because of her." Little wonder that Leone has received the college's ultimate faculty honor. "I am very thankful, but I get a little intimidated because I see my colleagues and how accomplished and professional they are," Leone said. "I sometimes feel that I can't compare to some of what they have done. But I hope to someday." Leone's appreciation of faculty extends to the college itself. And to her, the culture of an institution starts at the top. She was impressed when C.O.D. President Sunil Chand joined her and other new staff members in a lengthy orientation process in 2003. "Sitting with him every Tuesday, when he felt that it was important to be there, gave me an amazing idea of what the college is all about. "There is a welcoming, friendly environment at C.O.D. I wouldn't want to be anyplace else." |
