Kasia Mays Appointed to Prestigious Advisory Board of UC Irvine Extension's "Spa & Hospitality Management" Certificate Program

Business Wire, June 11, 2008

Talented Industry Professional Selected as Advisor to Internationally Renowned Certificate Program

IRVINE, Calif. & NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- University of California, Irvine Extension, the pioneer of the first "Spa and Hospitality Management" certificate program on the West Coast, and the first and only fully online certificate program of its kind in the United States, today announced the appointment of Kasia Mays to its prestigious advisory board of local and national industry professionals.

"UC Irvine Extension is delighted to welcome Kasia as one of the members of its 'Spa and Hospitality Management' advisory committee," said Angela Jeantet, M.B.A., director of the Education Programs Unit at UC Irvine Extension. "With more than 13 years of experience in the spa industry, Kasia definitely has her finger on the pulse of what's happening in the industry. Her extensive background serving as spa director in numerous luxury resorts will provide our program with unique opportunities for growth and diversification."

Recently, Mays was named spa director of The Spa at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Calif. Her duties include overseeing the development of the spa. Before that position, Mays served as spa director at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, a Five Diamond resort in Ojai, Calif., where she played a central role in the recent renovation and re-conceptualization of the facility and enhanced its status as one of the nation's foremost spas. Mays also has held senior positions in several top-notch resorts including: St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif., La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., and MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

"UC Irvine Extension's Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program offers the high-quality educational experience spa professionals need to succeed in today's market," said Mays. "As the spa industry continues to grow at a rapid rate, the program offers professionals applicable work experience and education supported by a credible institution system."

Known for providing current and up-to-date curriculum on the cutting-edge of what is in demand in continuing education, each of UC Irvine Extension's specialized certificate programs consults with an advisory board of national and local business leaders from various organizations and roles within the industry. These boards meet twice per year to identify industry trends, consult on the development of new and existing curriculum, provide insight into instructor and speaker selection, and discuss ways UC Irvine Extension can better meet the educational needs of the industry they represent. In addition to advisory roles, board members also serve as ambassadors of the program helping to generate awareness of UC Irvine Extension's unique curriculum nationally and globally.

UC Irvine Extension's Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program features in-depth studies taught by esteemed industry professionals from throughout the United States, covering everything from business planning and processes to opening a spa, to managing day-to-day operations and positioning for managed future growth. For more information about the Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program at UC Irvine Extension, please visit www.unex.uci.edu/spa or call 949-824-5414.

About UC Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities.

About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.