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Florida International University Press Release
Media Contact:
Ivonne Yee-Amor
305.299.2091                                     
iamor@fiu.edu
news.fiu.edu
@FIUNews
Left to right: FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg, FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management dean Michael Cheng, Chaplin School professor emeritus and E.M. Statler professor Rocco M. Angelo, with donors Letitia and John McKibbon of McKibbon Hospitality and the McKibbon Family Foundation.
Alumnus John McKibbon makes $5M gift to FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

MIAMI (Sept. 23, 2021) – John McKibbon and his wife Letitia have made a $5 million gift to the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management that will enhance alumni outreach, implement formal integration of technology and innovation into the curriculum, and create student scholarships at the top-10 U.S. public hospitality school from which he graduated.
 
The McKibbon ’75 Alumni Experience will be physically housed at the school on the Biscayne Bay Campus but have a large virtual presence to reach over 17,000 alumni globally. It aims to inspire future generations of professionals and entrepreneurs by celebrating graduates’ success, serving as a convener for the industry and curating experiences to strengthen alumni bonds while serving lifelong learners through continuing education options. It will include space for alumni to meet and network, areas for hospitality executives in residence, mentor/mentee collaboration and student hospitality clubs.
 
"FIU is Florida's number one public university," McKibbon said. "What better place to get a great education, and it's critical now more than ever to attract more young people to the industry. So, I'm hoping this gift will also encourage others to do the same. I'm excited to see what we can accomplish together."
 
Leveraging Miami’s emergence as the next technology hotspot, the gift will increase tech innovation at the Chaplin School through the establishment of the McKibbon ’75 Professorship, which will secure grants to increase endeavors as an innovative hospitality epicenter and bring the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and artificial intelligence to the forefront of hospitality tech. The Chaplin School was the first to offer a Certificate in IoT in Hospitality, and FIU was first in the nation to offer an IoT bachelor’s degree.
 
The gift also will create undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to help the next generation of students secure a world-class hospitality education and become future industry leaders. It benefits the Next Horizon campaign, which advances student success and research excellence at FIU.
 
“Our FIU is fortunate to have engaged alumni like John McKibbon who are committed to giving back to their alma mater and helping today’s students,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “His dedication to furthering the global excellence and stature of the Chaplin School will be a game-changer for our university and the entire industry.”
 
The gift was presented during a recent event celebrating well-loved and influential professor emeritus and E.M. Statler professor Rocco M. Angelo’s 90th birthday and the celebration of the school's 50th anniversary. Among the school’s first graduates, McKibbon, who graduated in 1975 and studied under Angelo, has worked in the hospitality industry since he was a teenager and is the third generation to run McKibbon Hotel Group, which was founded in 1926 and is now known as McKibbon Hospitality. He became president in 1992 and began expanding through development with Marriott, Hilton, and Starwood; today the company has 90 properties in 39 cities. He also founded M3 Hotel Accounting, an internet-based accounting software provider that is now the industry leader.
 
Through McKibbon’s Matching Funds Program, the firm has raised several million dollars over the past few years for community service organizations across the country, and he was the recipient of Marriott International’s Community Service Award. He was honored by FIU in 2009 with the FIU Medallion for Outstanding Alumnus.
 
“We are proud to count John among the most distinguished graduates of the Chaplin School, and his investment in the Chaplin School will prove transformational for hospitality education and the industry,” said Michael Cheng, the school’s dean. “His phenomenal achievements in the field will be reflected by what this gift makes possible for our school and its students.”
 
George Corton, chief development officer at the FIU Foundation, who first connected with McKibbon 10 years ago added, "As an FIU alumnus myself, I am inspired by John McKibbon's incredible commitment to our alma mater. His success in the hospitality field demonstrates the impact an FIU education can have on our graduates' lives. This gift is John's living legacy, and with it, he will help us build, shape and reinvent this program. His generosity will facilitate opportunities for generations of students to come."
-FIU-

About the McKibbon Family Foundation:
As much as we've evolved since our founding, one thing hasn't changed. We're still a family company dedicated to the communities we call home. Through the McKibbon Family Foundation, we give back to dozens of causes near and dear to our hearts. Learn more at https://www.mckibbonfamilyfoundation.org/.
 
About McKibbon Hospitality:
Headquartered in Tampa, FL, McKibbon Hospitality creates memorable hospitality experiences that inspire brand and property loyalty. It's how we've grown into one of the largest (and most awarded) hotel management companies in the country. We operate dozens of hotels for Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and other iconic hospitality brands. Our legacy is built on foundation of integrity, anchored in how we value our guests, treat our associates and partners, and give back to our communities. Visit McKibbon.com to learn more. 
 
About FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management:
Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is a Top 10 hospitality school among U.S. Public Universities and ranked 35th in the world. Nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students from across the nation and around the globe choose FIU for its outstanding reputation, advantageous campus locations in Miami, expert faculty, rich curriculum and real career opportunities in the international hotel, foodservice, beverage management, travel, tourism, revenue management, entertainment, and mega and large scale event industries. As the leading diverse hospitality program with over 70% women and students from 74 countries represented, Chaplin School graduates more undergraduate black and Hispanic students than any other school. In August 2006, FIU unveiled the first U.S. school of hospitality and tourism in Tianjin, China. The Marriott Tianjin China Program, ranked #1 in China, is FIU's largest international program, with a capacity for up to 1,000 students. For more information about Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, visit http://hospitality.fiu.edu.  
 
About the FIU Foundation, Inc.:
Established in 1969, the Florida International University Foundation, Inc. (FIU Foundation) is registered by the State of Florida as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. As defined in Florida Statute section 1004.28, the FIU Foundation has also been certified as a Direct Support Organization (DSO) of Florida International University. Governed by a board of directors, the FIU Foundation serves to encourage, solicit, receive, and ethically administer gifts for scientific, educational, and charitable purposes for the advancement of FIU. Through philanthropy, the FIU Foundation provides the margin of excellence that makes FIU one of the nation’s leading public research universities. For more information, visit give.fiu.edu.

About FIU:
Florida International University is a Top 50 public university that drives real talent and innovation in Miami and globally. High research (R1) activity and high social mobility come together at FIU to uplift and accelerate learner success in a global city by focusing in the areas of environment, health, innovation, and justice. Today, FIU has two campuses and multiple centers. FIU serves a diverse student body of more than 58,000 and 270,000 Panther alumni. U.S. News and World Report places dozens of FIU programs among the best in the nation, including international business at No. 2. Washington Monthly Magazine ranks FIU among the top 20 public universities contributing to the public good.
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