Washington State University Regents Professor Dogan Gursoy received the 2026 Founder’s Award at the 31st Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, held Jan. 8–10 at Auburn University.
The award recognizes an outstanding scholar in hospitality and tourism for significant contributions to research, scholarship, and graduate education. Auburn’s Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Business Management hosted the conference.
“This recognition came as a meaningful surprise, and I am truly grateful for it,” said Gursoy, who holds the Taco Bell Distinguished Professorship in Hospitality Business Management in the Carson College of Business.
“The Founder’s Award is but one of many recognitions Professor Gursoy has earned over his career,” said Debbie Compeau, Carson College dean. “His research expertise informs industry practice and elevates global awareness about the quality of the WSU School of Hospitality Business Management.”
Accomplished researcher, academic scholar
As a leading hospitality and tourism scholar, Gursoy focuses on topics such as use of artificially intelligent devices in service delivery, sustainability, services management, tourist behavior, and hospitality and tourism marketing. He has published 12 books and more than 250 research publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Gursoy is one of four highly cited researchers at WSU and is consistently recognized as one of the most prolific hospitality and tourism scholars worldwide. In 2025, he received the Outstanding Literary Award for Social Scientists at the International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management. He is also a recipient of the University of Delaware’s Michael D. Olsen Research Achievement Award and the ICHRIE Lifetime Research Achievement Award.
“I am proud to represent the School of Hospitality Business Management and the Carson College of Business through these recognitions,” Gursoy said. “I deeply appreciate the support, collaboration, and encouragement I receive from my colleagues and students, which make achievements like these possible.”
