色色啦

KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 9, 2024

When Colin Jacobs chose to study hospitality management at Kennesaw State University, he mostly associated the major with hotels and restaurants. However, his involvement on and off campus, as well as the industry connections he made, opened his eyes to the vast opportunities in the hospitality industry. 

鈥淏efore coming to KSU I was homeschooled and traveled around the country,鈥� said Jacobs, who grew up in Cartersville, Georgia. "I enjoyed the opportunities that came with traveling and knew I wanted to pursue a career where I would have the opportunity to experience new places.鈥� 

While pursuing his degree, Jacobs served as an officer in KSU鈥檚 Hospitality Leadership Club, worked part- and full-time jobs, and completed an internship program through the Peachtree Hotel Group. The program spanned an entire semester, giving Jacobs valuable insights into the hotel industry as he rotated to a different department every few weeks.  

鈥淚t was an incredible experience that shaped my understanding of the hotel and hospitality industry,鈥� he said, noting his coursework introduced him to a variety of hospitality careers outside of hotel management like event planning, compliance, data analysis, and revenue analysis.

Jacobs leveraged his close relationship with Leonard Jackson, program director for KSU鈥檚 hospitality management program and professor of hospitality management in the Coles College of Business, to secure the internship with the Peachtree Hotel Group and a job after graduation. 

"Colin exemplifies the success we strive for in our hospitality management program,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淥ur mission is to ensure that students not only excel academically but also gain meaningful, hands-on experience through quality employment opportunities during their college years. This approach positions them for exceptional career opportunities upon graduation. To achieve this, we partner closely with leading hospitality firms across all industry segments, creating pathways for our students to succeed. For Colin, we facilitated an excellent job during his time in college, providing valuable experience that seamlessly transitioned into an outstanding career opportunity after graduation.鈥�

Early in the fall semester, Jackson connected Jacobs to a KSU alumnus hiring for a capital asset analyst position at Club Benchmarking, a company that performs data analysis for private golf, country, and yacht clubs. After learning more about the position, Jacobs applied, and several rounds of interviews later, he got the job. 

鈥淚 owe that opportunity to Dr. Jackson and my connections at KSU, and I鈥檓 excited to get started,鈥� said Jacobs, who will travel to private clubs around the country and help them hit revenue goals by appraising assets and assisting in capital planning. 

Looking back on his time at KSU, Jacobs said the connections he made were most valuable in his journey. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 daunting going to a new place and trying to figure out your interests, internships, and how to find a job after college,鈥� he said. 鈥淏etween my connections with professors and my peers in student organizations, I never felt like I was on my own. I had the support to feel confident and will carry that with me after graduation.鈥� 

鈥� Story by Abbey O鈥橞rien Barrows

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 色色啦. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.