Department of Educational Leadership & Policies Studies (DELPS) alumna Agnes DeFranco has been honored with the Career Award from the University of Houston (UH).  She received an Ed.D. in Higher Education from the UH College of Education (UH COE).  The Career Award is given to tenured faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching over the course of their career at UH. 

In 1989 DeFranco began her stellar career as an assistant professor at the UH Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management (CNHC), teaching finance and accounting. She then served as Associate and Interim Dean of the college.  After her tenure in the dean’s office at CNHC she served as the Acting Director of Admissions and then the Associate and Assistant President for Undergraduate Studies at UH.  In 2013 she returned to CNHC where she is currently a professor and Conrad N. Hilton Distinguished Chair.

Defranco is most humbled to receive the Career Award from UH.  “It is really a huge honor,” she said.  “This award is simply a reminder for me to continue to teach at the highest standard every day in order to deserve the recognition.”

When asked which UH COE professors inspired her the most, DeFranco responded, “this is the easiest question – Dr. Will Weber and Dr. Barton Herrscher.  I was lucky to have both gentlemen as my co-chairs for my dissertation,” she said.  “They are the best professors anyone can ask for – perfect role models, tough on us but they cared so much about our success, making us better individuals!  And, of course, we miss Dr. Weber [who passed away in 2008] dearly.”

"We are so proud that Dr. DeFranco has been honored with the University of Houston Career Award," said UH COE Dean Robert McPherson.  "Her contributions as a professor and administrator at the University of Houston have been critical to achieving Tier One status."

When Defranco was asked what she likes most about being a professor at the Conrad N. Hilton College, she responded “the people – it is always the people, the students, my faculty colleagues, and in the Hilton College, of course, the hotel staff.” She also enjoys her “many great friends/educators.  Hospitality is a people industry!”

DeFranco’s expertise and research interests include finance, accounting, cost control, hospitality education, catering management, and convention management.  In addition to her many career highlights, she has received teaching awards at both the college and university level at UH.