Life at SAIT
Since August 2019, Chris has taught courses within the diploma and bachelor programs in the School of Hospitality and Tourism. Their favourite courses revolve around leadership, team building and critical thinking.
Chris is a dedicated advocate for teaching core human skills, which they believe are essential for the 21st-century workforce.
They are also a part of the SAIT disc golf team and a volunteer for the Student’s Club on campus.
Education
Chris completed their master’s degree in Melbourne, Australia, at Monash University, writing their thesis on pro-poor tourism and how to help local communities use tourism to their advantage. Part of this thesis was a version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for hostels in Sapa, Vietnam.
Chris graduated summa cum laude and became a member of the Golden Key Scholars.
They have since taught in Canada, Ecuador and Thailand in post-secondary colleges and at Prince Songkla University.
Professional accomplishments
Their current faculty research project is focused on finding the best business solution to replace tipping in the food service industry in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The objective is to mitigate the inequality of pay currently experienced in the industry and create standardized business structures that complement the type of food service outlet with the most amicable form of tipping for all stakeholders involved.
The literature review phase is complete, and Chris is now conducting interviews with various hospitality industry segments. Once interviews are completed, they will use machine learning and artificial intelligence to help analyze the data.
Earlier in their scholastic career, Chris published a literature review, which was added to a larger study during their bachelor’s degree. This research concerned user experiences with a new proposed multi-use website for Parks Canada.
Here at SAIT, they have also been involved with redesigning the Hospitality and Tourism Management program and multiple courses within the diploma and bachelor program.
Publications and presentations
- March 2018, Preventing International Tourism Leakage in Local Communities, Phuket International Conference on Creativity and Innovations for Global Development, Phuket, Thailand
- September 2023, Changing Tipping in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, inaugural Alberta Corridor Technical Symposium, Research Matters: Empowering Alberta Through Innovative Solutions, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- May 2024, ACIFA Conference, How to Engage Small Teams, NAIT Academic Staff Association, Jasper Park Lodge, British Colombia, Canada
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.