Fifty years later, Rocco Angelo of the Chaplin School is still teaching students and staying connected to the hospitality leaders he has taught for decades. Learn his tips for professional success.
Fifty years ago, Rocco M. Angelo, FIU professor emeritus of hospitality and current associate dean for alumni relations, joined the small program that has become today’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management on the Biscayne Bay campus. This semester, the hospitality pioneer celebrates his 50th anniversary at FIU. At 93 years old, he is the oldest faculty member still on the job, and he approaches his work with excitement and a big smile on his face.
“I have the best job in the world,” says Angelo, who graduated with a second bachelor’s degree in hospitality from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Management in 1958. “I remain excited to be a part of a university that continues to grow and advance,” he says of FIU. We have seen the program grow from a first batch of just 15 graduates to the second-largest and sixth-best hospitality school in the United States, according to the latest 2024 QS World University Rankings. .
A great trio: the BBC’s Rocco Angelo (centre) in the 1980s with then-assistant dean Lee C. Dixon (left) and then-dean Tony Marshall.
“Legend”
Angelo has impacted tens of thousands of students throughout his 50-year career. Many colleagues and students even refer to him as a “legend.” That’s because his name is synonymous with hospitality. He literally wrote the book on hospitality management, Hospitality Today: An Introduction, the ninth and most recent edition of which was co-authored with current Chaplin School Dean Michael Chen. This book is used by hospitality programs and educators at FIU and other schools around the world to teach future hospitality leaders.
“Rocco’s leadership, leadership, and lasting impact on generations of students and alumni were extraordinary and changed the outcomes of so many lives,” Chen said.
Over the past 50 years, under the guidance of five different deans, Angelo admits he has had to reinvent himself many times as new generations of students enter the university. During his time at the school, he has welcomed four new generations of students, from Gen Z to Gen Y, Millennials and Generation Alpha.
“What I learned from Rocco is that success is not just about achieving a goal, but about the journey and the people you elevate along the way,” said Carnival Corporation Chief Risk and Compliance Officer. said Richard Brilliant, a 1993 graduate of the Chaplin School. “His role in the hospitality industry and his genuine care for students left an indelible mark on all of us, our profession and, of course, the success of FIU,” he added.
50 years of advice
To celebrate his 50th anniversary, Angelo is sharing 50 years of advice suitable for students and graduates of all majors. Here are his top five pieces of advice, one for each decade.
#1 – Be interested in different career paths. Take an interest in your professors, classmates, co-workers, and everyone you meet. I’ve been telling my students this for years.
#2 – Become an expert in your chosen career path. Do research, do internships, and talk to experts in the field. Become an expert on what you want to do with the rest of your life.
#3 – Don’t be afraid to change your career path if you find out early on that what you’re doing isn’t for you.
#4 – If you’re changing jobs, don’t move laterally. Move up. If you have to make an upward move and move sideways, find out if it will be for a short period of time and put it in writing if possible.
#5 – If possible, follow opportunity rather than money.
Watch “The Legend” share his best advice.
constant change
For Angelo, the keys to personal success are change, growth, and progress.
Now he comes to the office at least twice a week. He works with other faculty and staff to ensure that students actively participate in major conferences to gain a deeper understanding of the field and represent the school. He also leads the school’s alumni networking efforts through reunions and events. The reunion is attended by many former students who are tired of listening to “Legend.”
