By Elizabeth Holland

In a world where it may seem impossible to find a job you love and utilize four years of hard work, these CSU alumni show just how far you can go with your bachelor’s degree. Rachel Chrisman and Christina Alvarez are CSU Hospitality Management (HM) graduates who now work in managerial positions at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. This 5-star hotel, near the Denver Airport, boasts rustic rooms, eight restaurants, an extensive spa and even a lazy river. 

Chrisman enjoyed working at the Aspen Grille during her time at CSU, a requirement of all HM students. The Aspen Grille is a bar and restaurant located on the third floor of the Lory Student Center, where students work as cooks, servers, bartenders, hosts and managers to gain real life experience. Chrisman loved “the hands-on experience and friendships” she made during her time there. During the week she worked as the Student Manager, she met the Marriott recruiter who introduced her to the Gaylord Resort. In her current position, as Event Experience Manager, she loves that every day is different. She gets to work on creative events and figure out logistics for things like hosting police horses and getting a DeLorean into a ballroom. 

Alvarez was already working at the Gaylord Resort as an Operations Manager when she found she needed a change from the hustle and bustle to balance her work and personal life. During her time in the HM program, Christina took a human resource class and recalled how much she enjoyed it. It was this class that led her to her true passion. She is now the Human Resource Coordinator at the Gaylord Resort where she gets to interact with 1300 employees every day. She likes being able to treat employees like guests when they come into her office, and she hopes to continue her career in Human Resources. 

CSU alumni, Chrisman and Alvarez, have found amazing opportunities after finishing their degree in the Hospitality Management program. By participating in the variety of classes and opportunities offered by the program, they were able to hone in on what they wanted for their future careers; which is important for all current students when come Thanksgiving break relatives want to know, what do you want to do with your degree? 

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.