Dr. Brijesh Thapa assumed responsibility as Director for the Center for Tourism Research and Development on Sept. 8. The center’s mission is to facilitate interdisciplinary research projects, ranging from mass tourism to special interest tourism. The center’s projects have been primarily Florida-focused, Thapa said, but the plan is to expand that scope.

“Our goal is to establish prominence in the global marketplace through research and partnerships with universities worldwide,” Thapa said.

Thapa also hopes to increase fund-raising in order to accomplish the center’s goals.

Dr. Lori Pennington-Gray, who had served in the director’s role since 2004, will continue to lead the Tourism Crisis Management Institute.