The University of California, Irvine Extension, the pioneer of the first 'Spa and Hospitality Management' certificate program on the West Coast, and the first and only fully-online certificate program of its kind in the United States, announced the appointment of Mia Kyricos to its prestigious advisory board of local and national industry professionals.'UC Irvine Extension is proud to welcome Mia Kyricos to its 'Spa and Hospitality Management' advisory board,' said Angela Jeantet, M.B.A., director of Education Programs at UC Irvine Extension. 'With a lifelong passion for the hospitality industry, Kyricos has held a variety of operational, consulting and corporate management positions across hotels, restaurants and spas where she has specialized for the past seven years. She has quickly earned a reputation as one of the industry's foremost leaders, and her keen awareness of the spa profession will be of great benefit to the University, its international audiences, and the future of our business'.
Director of the Spa Development, Operations and Marketing at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Mia Kyricos, has worked in the hospitality industry for over 15 years. There she supports existing and developing hotel spas, as well the creation of proprietary spa concepts for Starwood's hotel brands. She also oversees the Starwood Spa Collection, which is internationally in 26 countries. She is a frequent speaker at industry events, most recently at the American Spa Expo and the Cornell Hotel Society Spa Symposium. Kyricos earned her MMH from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.
'UC Irvine Extension's Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program offers a high-quality and valuable educational experience for those spa professionals seeking to enhance their business and management skills,' said Kyricos. 'So many people within our industry want to go back to school, but are unable to find a program that fits their schedule and specific needs. The University's courses are manageable for busy professionals, are offered online, and are taught in the language of the spa industry. I am glad to be a part of the growth and expansion of such a wonderful program.'
Known for providing current and up-to-date curriculum on the cutting-edge of what is in-demand in continuing education, each of UC Irvine Extension's specialized certificate programs consults with an advisory board of national and local business leaders from various organizations and roles within the industry. These boards meet twice per year to identify industry trends, consult on the development of new and existing curriculum, provide insight into instructor and speaker selection, and discuss ways UC Irvine Extension can better meet the educational needs of the industry they represent. In addition to advisory roles, board members also serve as ambassadors of the program, helping to generate awareness of UC Irvine Extensionç—´ unique curriculum, nationally and globally.
About UC Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu.
About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.