Patti Shock, professor and chair of UNLV's tourism and convention administration department, was named one of the 25 most influential people in the meetings industry in the August issue of "Meeting News" magazine.

Shock was chosen by the magazine for her significant contributions to the meetings industry and for her continuing commitment to shaping the future of meetings and convention education.

Shock joined the UNLV faculty in 1988, and she has since won numerous awards and distinctions for her service to the university and the hospitality industry, including a Boyd Distinguished Professor Award, and a Distinguished Service Award from the International Association for Exposition Management, among others. In 2000, she was named one of the10 most powerful women in the convention industry by "Successful Meetings" magazine.

Prior to her position at UNLV, Shock headed the hotel, restaurant, and travel administration department at Georgia State University, where she integrated the first convention and meeting planning courses into a college curriculum. She has since co-authored three texts on the subject and is currently at work on a book about restaurant marketing.

Shock currently teaches courses in on-premise catering and foodservice marketing. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Southern Mississippi.