Dr. Hailin Qu of Oklahoma State University is the recipient of The Michael D. Olsen award for 2008. Dr. Cihan Cobanoglu from University of Delaware presented the award to Dr. Qu on January 4, 2008 at the 13th Annual Graduate Education & Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality & Tourism in Orlando. The award was established by Dr. Fred DeMicco to recognize excellence in hospitality education and research. The award is named for Dr. Olsen to honor his contributions to the body of hospitality knowledge and his mentoring of graduate students. This award is given annually to recognize someone who has made significant contributions, through sustained and focused research, to the body of knowledge in hospitality and tourism. When reviewing nominees for the Olsen Award, the committee considers the candidates’ overall contributions to the academy including publications, service on editorial review boards, as well as their work mentoring graduate students. Past Michael D. Olsen Award winners include:

• Dr. Kaye Chon
• Dr. Barbara Almanza
• Dr. Stowe Shoemaker
• Dr. Carol Shanklin
• Dr. Chekitan Dev
• Dr. Cathy Enz
• Dr. Cathy Hsu
• Dr. Abe Pizam
• Dr. Jafar Jafari
• Dr. Anna Matilla

HRIM Chair, Dr. Bob Nelson said that " This year’s winner is a fitting addition to this distinguished group of researchers. He is a true international scholar having taught at leading hospitality and tourism schools in Asia, Europe and North America. He is a prolific author whose extensive tourism research is truly world class. He has also made his mark encouraging the next generation of tourism scholars with his extensive supervision of PhD and masters students. It is with great pride and pleasure that the University of Delaware presents this year’s Michael D. Olsen Award to Dr. Hailin Qu of Oklahoma State University." 

Dr. Cobanoglu said that "it was an honor for me to present this award to Dr. Qu because he was one of my dissertation committee members at Oklahoma State University and has been serving as my mentor. He truly deserves this award"