Throughout his tenure at Penn State, Mann held numerous administrative positions, including department chair and associate dean for research and graduate studies. In 1988, he was appointed to lead the hotel, restaurant and institutional management (HRIM) program, which soon expanded to include the Recreation Management program at the time.
Under Mann’s leadership, the then School of Hotel, Restaurant and Recreation Management was formed and for which he served as director through 1998.
Mann was instrumental in realizing the Mateer Building, which opened in 1993 as the physical home of the now School of Hospitality Management and its curriculum. He played a key role in fundraising for Mateer Building along with the creation of Café Laura, a student-run food service facility that continues to operate today as the school’s "living lab," an ongoing testament to Mann’s vision.
He also led the certification of the PGA professional golf management program at Penn State, the fourth of its kind in the U.S. at the time.
Sara J. Parks, professor emeritus of hospitality management, served as a member of the graduate faculty prior to and during Mann's appointment and later succeeded him as director of the school.
"Stuart's visionary leadership, his positivity, his hard work and his empathy and kindness helped take hospitality management from a department to a school with the help of many distinguished alumni. It was no easy accomplishment,” Parks said.
Parks continued, “He never looked back, always respected our history, and was amazing in bringing about changes that continue to serve us well even today. Stuart's legacy will continue to inspire us for many years. His contributions and his friendships will be his hallmark for many years to come.”
After 28 years at Penn State, Mann went on to become the dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, now the Harrah College of Hospitality Management, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1998. During his tenure there, he created the 13th PGA professional golf management program in the nation and established the first undergraduate major in gaming management. He also oversaw the creation of UNLV’s first international campuses in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, along with numerous partnerships with universities throughout Asia.
His contributions to the field of hospitality education were widely recognized. He was a founding fellow and trustee of the Educational Institute of the American Hotel Foundation and received several prestigious awards, including the Anthony G. Marshall Outstanding Education Leadership Award and the Stevenson W. Fletcher Award from I-CHRIE for his innovative contributions to hospitality and tourism education.
“Dr. Mann was genuinely excited to talk about research and always had something interesting to share,” said Amit Sharma, Edward Friedman and Stuart Mann Professor of Hospitality Management. “I’ll remember him as someone who loved what he did, always fully engaged and curious.”
After retiring from UNLV in 2010, Mann remained active in the Red Rock Country Club, where he served as president of the Men’s Golf Association and was instrumental in organizing the Red Rock Golf Classic, a charity event supporting Operation Homefront. Over the years, this event raised $1.5 million to support military servicemen, women and their families.
Mann was educated in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, attending University High School and later the University of Illinois, where he earned his degree in mathematics. After completing his undergraduate studies, he served as a reserve officer in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1965, having entered through Officer Candidate School.
In 1965, he began graduate studies at Case Institute of Technology, earning both a master of science and a doctorate in operations research by 1968.
A husband, father and educator, Mann leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Doreen; two children, Janis and Lisa Mann; and two stepchildren, Jennifer Stevens and Joseph Hurvitz, along with their families: Shawn, Emma, and Ethan Stevens; Edna, Winslow, and Rosalind Hurvitz. He also left behind his sister Judith Mann.
Memorial gifts may be made to Operation Homefront via donate.operationhomefront.org or to Temple Sinai at templesinailv.org.