TIM 60th

Aloha!

This year marks a significant milestone—the 60th anniversary of the School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Since its founding in 1966, the TIM School has served as a cornerstone of excellence in hospitality, tourism and transportation education—rooted in Hawaiʻi’s unique sense of place while extending its influence worldwide.

Today, TIM is recognized among the world’s top hospitality and tourism programs in both the 2024 Shanghai Ranking and the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Ranking. We see a strong trend in undergraduate enrollment, which is up by 4.5%. In addition, more than 90% of TIM graduates secure employment or pursue graduate studies within three months of graduation, and over $560,000 in scholarships were awarded to TIM students in 2025–2026.

Such achievements are rooted in the leadership and vision that shaped the school’s early growth. At the heart of this legacy was Dean Emeritus Chuck Yim Gee, whose visionary leadership elevated the TIM School to international prominence from 1976 to 1999. Dean Gee advanced the integration of business education with cultural understanding and global collaboration, positioning the TIM School as a bridge between Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific region. Under his direction, the school expanded its partnerships with the travel and hospitality industries, strengthened its global engagement and championed the study of sustainable tourism long before it became a global priority. Dean Gee’s legacy continues to guide our commitment to innovation, student achievement and the enduring sense of ʻohana that unites our community around the world.

Today, as part of the Shidler College of Business, the TIM School continues to evolve while remaining firmly anchored in its founding values. As we celebrate this milestone, we also look ahead with optimism and resolve. The future of travel and tourism calls for creativity, resilience and compassion—qualities deeply embedded in our mission and reflective of Hawaiʻi’s role as a global leader in hospitality and service.

Throughout the year, we will commemorate our 60th anniversary through initiatives that honor the people and principles that define the TIM School. I extend my deepest gratitude to our faculty, staff, students, alumni and industry partners whose dedication and support have sustained the TIM School for six decades.

Together, we honor our past, uphold our mission and look forward to shaping a future that continues to reflect Hawaiʻi’s enduring influence as a model for hospitality, leadership and excellence worldwide.

With sincere appreciation

V. Vance Roley

Dean and First Hawaiian Bank Chair of Leadership and Management