April 2012

by Joshua Grotheer

If you’ve ever had a class with Dr. Dave, as he is typically called by GSU students and faculty, then you’ve probably heard of the CRASE restaurant simulation, menu design and average daily rate, along with an anecdote or two about Angelo’s Italian Restaurant. If not, then you still may know Dr. Pavesic as the School of Hospitality’s own restaurant and foodservice expert.

David V. Pavesic’s career in food service began at the young age of 13. Upon graduation from Michigan State, he held several high ranking positions in restaurant management - including general manager for Regan’s Restaurants, Inc., and foodservice director at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. - before taking the entrepreneurial route in 1973 and opening his own restaurant, Angelo’s Italian Restaurant in Orlando. The fame of the first Angelo’s led to a second location in 1976. After his successful run as a restaurateur, Dr. Dave joined academia as a professor in the Department of Restaurant Management at Florida State University, where he earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration in 1981.

“Dave embodies the practical approach to teaching food service cost control. He has the heart and soul of a restaurant owner with traces of marinara flavoring his lectures. His passionate pursuit of a logical approach to controlling the costs associated with operating a contemporary café has resulted in publications too numerous to count.”

- Larry Ross, colleague and former School of Hospitality faculty member

In 1986, Pavesic joined Georgia State University as director of the School of Hospitality, a position he held until 1996. As director, he led the program in earning accreditation through the Accreditation Commission of Programs in Hospitality Administration. He focused on academic rigor and was instrumental in hiring key faculty, three of whom are still with the school - Deborah Robbe, Ray Ferreira and current director Debby Cannon. The School of Hospitality’s growth today is built on the foundation established by Pavesic - both as director at an instrumental time and through his countless contributions as a valuable faculty member.

Dr. Dave’s leadership in the area of hospitality education has brought him national prominence. Robert Brymer, an educator at Florida State University and frequent co-author with Pavesic, says he is “one of the most passionate people I know in his love for hospitality education. He has one of the most solid, hands-on, practical understandings of the hospitality industry I have known in education.”

Dr. Dave is a premier researcher and textbook author with more than 38 articles published in hospitality academic journals, over 24 articles in major trade publications, seven book chapters and eight textbooks. Pavesic is considered one of the most prolific authors in hospitality education, having written on hospitality curriculum issues, faculty recruiting and ethics. He has also written on the importance of academic standards in hospitality education and the importance of industry input to hospitality education.

These accomplishments, plus involvement in industry associations and an extensive consulting business in restaurant operations, have placed Dr. Dave as one of the nation’s leading hospitality educators. As he celebrates retirement, we say thank you to Dr. Dave Pavesic for his hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence in preparing graduates to be the next generation of hospitality executives. “His level of focus on excellence is rare,” says Brymer. “Hospitality education will miss this from Dave.”