Matthew J Samel (he/him)


Professor, College Chair College of Hospitality & Business Department of Hospitality Providence

Biography

Samel holds a PhD in Organization and Management with a specialization in human resources. His focus of study is in organizational culture and person-organization fit (P-O fit). He teaches in the College of Hospitality & Business and has operational, training, and human resources work experience in a variety of industry segments including hotels, independently and corporately owned restaurant organizations, and private clubs.

Samel is an associate member of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), Academy of Management, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and is a Certified Food Manager Professional (FMP – NRA), Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE- AHLEI), and a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®).

In addition to teaching, he is the faculty advisor to the student CMAA chapter, where he assists students in obtaining scholarships, securing employment and internships, and attending the CMAA Student Education and World Conference on Club Management. He has lectured internationally at the Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Tourismo in Estoril, Portugal.

Education

PhD, Capella University
Organization & Management

MBA, Johnson & Wales University
Management

BS, Johnson & Wales University
Hospitality Management

Certificate in HR Ethics
HR Certification Institute – HRCI

Senior Professional in Human Resources
(Recertification) HR Certification Institute – HRCI

CITI Certification
CITI Program, Social & Behavioral Research, Basic Course 1

CITI Certification
CITI Program, Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research, 1 RCR

Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE)
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute

ServSafe Alcohol
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

Senior Professional in Human Resources
HR Certification Institute – HRCI

2025 Membership Milestone – 10 Years
Club Management Association of America

CMAA – Student Chapter of the Year Award
Club Management Association of America

Student Organization of the Year – CMAA
JWU

JWU 25 Years of Service Award
Johnson & Wales University

Advisor of the Year Award
Johnson & Wales University – Club & Organizations

Key Contributor Award
Johnson & Wales University – IT Department

Pioneer Award
Johnson & Wales University – College of Hospitality Management

Certificate of Special Merit (2001, 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2011)
Johnson & Wales University – College of Hospitality Management

“Johnson & Wales, Providence, Collaborates on Private Club Immersion Tour for Faculty.” Samel, M. (January 25, 2025)
https://www.club-mgmt.com/clubmanagement/2025january_february/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=2036689#articleId2036689

“Networking Tips for Online Learners.” Samel, M. (November 26, 2024)
https://online.jwu.edu/blog/networking-tips-for-online-learners/

“Bridging the Gap: How to Encourage More Students to Choose the Club Industry.” Samel, M. (April 9, 2024)
https://www.club-mgmt.com/clubmanagement/library/item/2024march_april/4186078/

“Episode 318: Mentoring Tomorrow’s Hospitality Leaders w/ Jeff Isbell & Matthew Samel.” Samel, M. (January 11, 2024)
https://www.privateclubradio.com/

“Addressing the Challenges of a Multigenerational Workforce.” Samel, M. (November, 2021)
https://www.hrci.org/community/blogs-and-announcements/hr-leads-business-blog/hr-leads-business/2022/02/14/addressing-the-challenges-of-a-multigenerational-workforce

“Let’s Talk Club Management Ep. 57: Person-Organization Fit..” Samel, M. (June 30, 2021)
https://soundcloud.com/clubmanagersassnofamerica/lets-talk-club-492960713

“Capitalizing on Young Talent : Student Development Panel.” Samel, M. (March 29, 2021)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9FChP_6sX0

“JWU Alumni Share the Ins and Outs of Managing Private Clubs During COVID-19.” Samel, M. (September 22, 2020)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc5FXXFwgYY

“Ties that Bind.” Samel, M. (September 1, 2020)
https://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?m=45539&i=672620&p=36&ver=html5

“Episode PRC 137: 6 Key Takeaways from My CMAA Faculty Internship.” Samel, M. (April 29, 2019)
https://soundcloud.com/private-club-radio/dr-matthew-samel-and-donna-coyne-pcr-137

“Episode PRC 70: Insights into the wants and needs of the next generation of hospitality professionals.” Samel, M. (August 13, 2018)
https://soundcloud.com/private-club-radio/dr-matthew-j-samel-pcr-070-auphonic

“Lessons Learned – Member Profile.” Samel, M. (May, 2018)
https://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?m=45539&i=501140&p=14&ver=html5

International Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education

Club Management Association of America

New England Club Management Association of America

Society for Human Resource Management 2014 – 2017

American Hotel and Lodging Association

National Restaurant Association

Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association

Samel, M. (April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 28, 2023). Are You Successfully Using Your Guest Speakers?. (Instructional Material).
Faculty Focus.
https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/are-you-successfully-using-your-guest-speakers/

Samel, M. (December 12, 2022). Inspiring Your Students to Write, Cite, and Avoid Plagiarism. (Instructional Material).
Faculty Focus – Higher Ed Teaching & Learning.
https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/inspiring-your-students-to-write-cite-and-avoid-plagiarism/

Samel, M. (August 8, 2022). Clubs’ Environmentally Responsible Behavior: The Perspectives of Club Managers in North America. (Review of Scholarly Papers).
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 23(4), 788-812.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=gaubyQ8AAAAJ&citation_for_view=gaubyQ8AAAAJ:d1gkVwhDpl0C

Samel, M. (December, 2021). Showing Appreciation – How – and why – pizzerias might use the close of the year to recognize employees. (Magazine/Trade Publication).
Pizza Today – Back Office, 30-31.
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202112/index.php?startid=30#/p/30

Samel, M. (July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 26, 2021). An Integrative Approach to Student Understanding and Learning. (Instructional Material).
Faculty Focus – Higher Ed Teaching & Learning.
https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/an-integrative-approach-to-student-understanding-and-learning/

COHM – Inservice – Private Club Immersion Tour, “Private Club Faculty Immersion Tour,” NECMA – New England Club Management Association, Boston and Brookline, MA. (September 27, 2024).

DECA – Competitive Events Association Qualifying Conference, “DECA – Regional Competition,” Massachusetts Collegiate DECA, Easton, MA, United States. (March 24, 2024).

CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo, “Private Club Virtual Tours – Poster Session CMAA 2024 World Conference,” Club Management Association of America, Las Vegas, United States. (March 4, 2024).

Expertise

private club management and culture; human resources, employee recruiting and retention; food and beverage cost controls