Susan E. West holds a Master of Arts from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Science from Stephen F. Austin State University. After transitioning from hotel management, she is now an Associate Professor of Agriculture and Tourism at Arkansas Tech University and the Director of Recruitment and Retention for the College of Business and Economic Development. She teaches courses in lodging, event management, and internships. A state judge for ProStart since 2005, Susan has also judged competitions like Iron Chef and Iron Skillet and was formerly Director of Culinary and Hospitality at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
Susan is a member of SKAL and has held multiple leadership roles, including voting delegate for Arkansas. She has advised the Hospitality Society for over ten years and won Advisor of the Year and Resorts and Recreation Learning Living Community Advisor of the Year in 2017. She also serves on the Southeast Tourism Society's board of directors. Susan lives in Russellville with her husband Howard, with whom she has two children and two grandsons.
