photo by steed media service

Susan Mangels has a special dedication to the students and staff of Lexington College. As the president of the nation’s only women’s hospitality management college, she takes her duties seriously, and has a genuine passion for each student. “In a women’s institution, there’s a lot of camaraderie because we all have [being women] in common,” explains Mangels. “We’re a very diverse college, [and] what the students tell me is that they feel more comfortable in class to express their opinions. I think the sense ... that this environment is very personalized [is] helping them to develop as women and professionals.”

A Connecticut native, Mangels taught at Lexington prior to becoming the school’s president. She loves Chicago and how the city supports the school. “We always say the city is our campus, because we’re located downtown and we have a lot of relationships with institutions and organizations in the city,” she says. “Because we’re a bachelor’s degree program and there are a lot of city colleges that offer hospitality degrees, we also have relationships with community colleges.” Those relationships help maximize opportunities for the students post-graduation.

Mangels communicates with students to learn about their professional goals. “They’re interested in studying hospitality because they like people [and] they want an experience that combines professional education with an interesting liberal arts education,” she shares. “They want to get out there and plan events and take care of people. That’s why we’re really serious about our academic advising [and] our career services — to help young women set out [on] their path.” – todd williams

For more information visit www.lexingtoncollege.edu .


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