Photo: Stella Kalinina
On Friday, May 16, 2025, the Epstein Family Quad on the USC University Park Campus was full of excitement as graduates of the Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism program celebrated commencement with their families, friends, and peers. Eighteen graduates from all over the country, working in a number of fields in the hospitality and tourism industry, such as food and beverage, events, and tourism, among others, came together to celebrate their accomplishments.
Photo: Stella Kalinina
This year’s Bovard College commencement speaker, Michael Fenlon, PhD, emphasized the profound impact of human connection, noting that “even a brief, positive interaction with a complete stranger can have positive effects on our well-being.” This message resonates deeply in the context of the hospitality and tourism field, where meaningful connections are at the heart of the work. Armed with diverse experiences and advanced degrees, the MSHT graduates are prepared now more than ever before to help cultivate these connections and make a lasting difference in their industries.
MSHT graduate, Devyn Favela, was recommended by the program’s faculty to represent her classmates and USC Bovard College as the ceremony’s banner bearer. “As a working mother, pursuing my degree was both a personal and professional milestone. Carrying the banner represents more than academic excellence to me—it is a symbol of the resilience, dedication, and perseverance that it took to balance my career, education, and growing family,” she shared. Favela also reflected on attending her own father’s graduation ceremony as a child, and how having her children present at her commencement ceremony and seeing her as banner bearer “certainly brings this memory full circle.”
A key part of the Bovard College curriculum is working on a capstone project that allows students to synthesize their knowledge and skills gained throughout the program. Favela’s capstone project was an ambitious reimagining of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser concept at the Walt Disney World Resort, which she also considers to be her biggest achievement in the program. “This project challenged me to craft an immersive experience design and flexible operational strategy to create a compelling and feasible hospitality concept,” Favela shared, “It was incredibly rewarding to create an end-to-end vision that both pushed boundaries and focused on the fundamentals of great service.” Favela says that, after graduating, she is most looking forward to spending her weekends without homework and taking a well-earned vacation with her family, “this time to enjoy the kind of hospitality I’ve spent the last two years analyzing. I also look forward to applying fresh perspectives to better lead my team and shape the future of my organization. No matter where life takes me next, I know I’ll continue to Fight On.”
Many of the 2025 graduates work in the hospitality and tourism industry; however, USC’s MS in Hospitality and Tourism also provides a valuable foundation for people looking to change careers and enter the field. Students explore every concept needed for professional success, including globalization, innovation, sustainability, and ethical practices. Courses also prepare students to lead and innovate through disruption.
Designed to fit students’ schedules, the online MS in Hospitality and Tourism program is offered on both a one- and two-year track. At 24 units, the program can be completed in just 12 months for students in the one-year track. No GRE is required, and students have their choice of three enrollment dates each year.
Watch the 2025 commencement ceremony here.