West campus news Releases Archive

ASU professor honored with outstanding alumni service award

Nov. 14, 2005

Arizona State University associate professor Wendy Hultsman, chair of the department of Recreation and Tourism Management at the West campus, recently received Indiana University’s John Endwright Distinguished Alumni Service Award. The award is IU’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation’s highest accolade presented to alumni, providing recognition for distinguished service through personal and professional accomplishments and community service.

Hultsman received her master’s degree from IU in 1977. She was nominated for the award by Lynn Jamieson, IU’s chair of the department of Recreation and Parks Administration.

“I had no idea I was going to be nominated for this award,” said Hultsman. “It is great to be recognized by my peers. I feel extremely honored to be included among other distinguished alumni who have also received this award.”

A successful researcher, Hultsman has completed several studies in the area of special event management including examination of vendor needs and satisfaction relative to trade show participation, and entertainers’ perceptions of event management. She continues to develop comprehensive long range plans for active retirement communities in the Valley.

Hultsman organized a multi-year partnership with the city of Glendale parks and recreation department to provide service learning opportunities for ASU students. She also contributes to her profession through her leadership efforts such as her previous service as chair of the Arizona Festivals and Event Association.

“Wendy’s unwavering commitment to ASU, to her students and to her many important involvements in the local community have been widely recognized and greatly appreciated by her colleagues at ASU,” said John Hepburn, dean of the College of Human Services. ”The receipt of this prestigious award is further testimony of the impact she has had in improving the quality of life in our community. We are very proud of her.”

Her teaching interests lie in special event management, professional development, area and facility management, programming and team building facilitation. In 1995, ASU recognized Hultsman for her outstanding teaching abilities, honoring her with the Award of Achievement in Teaching.

“When I began teaching back in the 1970s I thought of three benchmarks that would be neat to attain: to have students want to take my class because I was teaching them; to be recognized by the university for my teaching; and to be recognized by my fellow alumni for my work in the profession,” said Hultsman.

Although she has achieved her personal goals, Hultsman remains commitment to her long-term professional goals of teaching, researching, and serving ASU and the community.

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