Sophia Stessman '28 Student Spotlight

Sophia Stessman ’28 chose UMass Amherst for its robust Hospitality and Tourism Management Department. The Sharon, Mass., native says her experience at Isenberg has provided her with opportunities she could once only dream of—including an experience of a lifetime working and learning at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland.

How did you choose Isenberg and UMass Amherst?

I knew I wanted to go into hospitality and tourism management—in fact, I initially discovered the major while looking through the UMass website my sophomore year in high school. I have a few older brothers, so I was encouraged to look into state schools early on because they would be more financially manageable. At the time of receiving my acceptance letter, Isenberg HTM was ranked #10 in the nation—it is ranked No. 5 today.

I thought that was pretty good, but I was hooked after going to Destination Day and seeing the #HTMPossibilities and the community of the Isenberg HTM program. I talked to older students and professors about their internships, possible abroad trips, and HTM clubs I could join and realized this was where I wanted to be. Isenberg had the opportunities available to make things I could only dream of a reality. I can say that for certain after being accepted into the César Ritz study abroad program, which I originally heard about during Destination Day.

Can you elaborate more about the program?

The program I joined is called the César Ritz Colleges Switzerland: Learn 6/Work 6 Program. This means I will spend six months at their Brigs campus in Switzerland, learning German while taking hospitality courses. César Ritz is rated third globally in hospitality. After, I will complete a six-month internship within the hospitality industry. This internship can take place in Switzerland or another country.

What have been your favorite classes and experiences at Isenberg so far?

Many of my club experiences have been some of the best so far at Isenberg. I was able to attend the Club Management Association of America World Conference in Tampa, Florida, this past February. After going to an event like that, I am not the same student I was before. I was able to learn so much about the club industry and networking while attending. I also joined the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) for their hotel tours in New York City this past fall. That, too, was an amazing experience because I was shown the intricacies of different hotels and realized a 2,000+-room hotel is its own breed.

What clubs and extracurriculars do you participate in?

I am part of the three hospitality clubs at Isenberg: NSMH (National Society of Minorities in Hospitality), CMAA (Club Management Association of America), and AHLA. Their representatives came into my HTM 100 class within the first few weeks, and once I started showing up at their meetings and events, I never really stopped. All three have knowledgeable panelists or alumni who come in and tell their experiences and provide other opportunities to introduce students to different parts of the industry.

Do you have a mentor from the Isenberg community who has helped shape your experience so far?

At Isenberg, everyone is ready and willing to be a mentor. I wouldn’t have learned half as much without the amazing connections the professors, students, and clubs have provided me with. Although I would love to shout-out Jesenia Minier-Jennings, assistant dean of DEIB, and the program director for the Pathways in Education residential academic program (RAP). I have learned so much through her and the RAP activities. I continue to be pushed to grow, which has given me the confidence to pursue possibilities I never thought I could.

Learn more about the Cesar Ritz Study and Work Abroad program: https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/programs/undergraduate/on-campus/student-experience/swiss.