A respected leader in spa education will be honored during the 2007 International SPA Association's Conference & Expo, Nov. 12-15, in Kissimmee, Fla., United States. Jonathan Paul DeVierville, Ph.D., director of the Alamo Plaza Spa at the historic Menger Hotel and Professor of History, The Humanities, and Global Studies at St. Philip's College, San Antonio, Texas, is the recipient of the ISPA 2007 Dedicated Contributor Award."ISPA is honored to recognize Dr. Jonathan Paul DeVierville as a true advocate for the deeper purpose of spa, spa culture and the spa experience," said ISPA Chairman Jim Root. "His tireless dedication and passion for ISPA and advancing spa education will leave a lasting impression on those who work in the spa community as well as generations of spa-goers."
The ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award is given to an active ISPA member who has contributed significantly to the growth of the association. The recipient will have demonstrated leadership and commitment to ISPA and has extensively assisted in the promotion of the association, as well as its mission and vision.
Upon learning of this recognition, Dr. DeVierville said he was reminded of the following lines from Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening": "The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep." Dr. DeVierville added, "If one really stops cold, looks around and listens quietly into all the darkness, deeply — we all still have much needed, important, true, good and beautiful work ahead and 'miles to go before we sleep.'"
As a founding member of the ISPA Foundation, Dr. DeVierville served on its board from 1999 to 2006 including several years in the role of secretary. He also served on the ISPA Board of Directors and the association's education committee. Dr. DeVierville currently serves on the committee that is forming ISPA's introduction to spa course for colleges.
Along with his spa training and college teaching, Dr. DeVierville, maintains a private practice and corporate consultations as well as directs the annual "Dreams & Healing Waters: World Spa Cultures Seminar, Liquid Sound Workshop & Kur Spa Tour Course" at Bad Sulza, Germany.
Dr. DeVierville will receive the ISPA 2007 Dedicated Contributor Award on Nov. 12 during the day's General Session. Recent past recipients of the award include: Gayle Brady, director of development for Skin Authority; Jack Morrison, manager, Elmcrest College of Applied Health Sciences & Spa Management; Peter Sng, managing director, SpaCare International; and Jane Segerberg, vice president, JGL Inc.