Dr. John Niser

Dr. John Nisers' professional experience started in international hotel management giving him a solid practical operational knowledge of the field of Hospitality Management. He followed this experience managing hotels in Europe and North Africa with formal studies in Psychology at Geneva (Switzerland) University and earned a doctoral degree focused on young adult development specifically focused on Craft Based Learning (Anglia Ruskin University, UK.)

Living in Switzerland he had the opportunity to put into practice his “double background” and work in a key position to develop the Swiss Hotel Association Hotel Management School “Les Roches” in a process leading to US regional accreditation as a degree granting institution. Les Roches was the first Swiss school to be granted NEASC membership. In this position he was also responsible for the implementation of the first degree program in hotel management offered in Switzerland and for the successful opening of a branch campus in Spain. For this school he started recruiting in China, South East Asia and the Middle East and gained invaluable experience regarding matching curriculum with industry expectations and students career aspirations.

In 1999 he was appointed Directeur Général of Glion Institute of Higher Education and in 2002 SHA HMS Les Roches (Switzerland) was added to his responsibilities when both schools came under the same ownership. In this position he had a total responsibility for both institutions reporting to the board.  These schools are recognized as two out of three of the leading Swiss hotel schools.  He developed the schools into thriving profitable operations from 1999 to 2005. Adding post graduate studies, programs in business, sports management and a graduate program, allowed these school to grow both in quality and profitability. The performance of these institutions stand as a witness to his capacity in leadership, political and public relations as well as designing, marketing and managing educational programs that reached the right balance between financial and educational objectives to spur growth.

He left Switzerland in 2005, to take a position as Associate Professor (tenure track) and Senator (University Senate) at UNH in the Wittmore School of Business hospitality department. He returned to Switzerland for 6 months to lead a start up business.  The business is now on the road and he has handed it over to a management team. He returned to the US working for an Italian education corporation for whom he developed a University Park close to Milan as well as Hotel Management programs for the E-Campus university.  At the same time he took the position of president of SITMA Group who manage the SwissEducation International Hotel and Restaurant Academies.

Currently Dr Niser is chair of the Consumer and Family Science department that is the home of the Purdue Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management. He opened a purpose built teaching facility on campus within a 150 room full service hotel in 2008. The program is member of “Hotel Schools of Distinction”, Dr Niser is the President of this international organization regrouping leading hotel schools in Europe and the Americas. Dr. Niser serves on various industry and charitable boards, and serves on the Purdue System Inter Faculty Council as well as elected Senator representing IPFW on the Purdue Senate. Serving on the board of the New ARC of Indiana he is helping open a full service training hotel that will offer students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in professionally focused college level courses endorsed by industry. His research interests have led him to co-author the first textbook covering hotel electronic distribution and demand management. He is now working collaboratively with major industry partners on a book on Revenue Management.

He is a Swiss and British citizen, born in London.  His hobbies are long distance running and sailing with interests in history and philosophy.  He is married with three children; two sons and one daughter.