Suzanne Anderson, D.B.A., M.B.A., Hospitality and Tourism Program Manager and Associate Professor of General Business, SCF.

Suzanne Anderson has a heart for travel, hospitality and higher education. She treasures seeing the world, learning new topics and teaching business, hospitality and tourism.

Anderson grew up on a small farm in Dexter, Michigan. She lives in Bradenton and has visited many international places, including Switzerland, Spain, France, England, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Australia and Scotland. Over the past 25 years, she has earned two post-secondary degrees and led two successful careers in hospitality management and business teaching. Her academic studies and degree work took focus and discipline.

“When I was in my bachelor’s program, I was on academic probation,” said Anderson. “By the time I got my doctorate, I was one A- short of a 4.0. Some of us are late bloomers.”

In the hospitality industry, Anderson started as a front desk reservations agent at the iconic Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island, Michigan. She continued working in administrative, financial, service and leadership roles at an inn in Scotland and at Hyatt properties in the Washington, D.C. and Sarasota regions.

“At my last corporate position, I directed conventions of up to 20,000 attendees, chartered a cruise ship for a private event with 5,000 passengers, had a meal cooked for me by Iron Chef Jose Garces, and held VIP events at my CEO’s private island and ranch,” Anderson said.

After working in hospitality management, Anderson shifted her focus to business education. She taught classes as a part-time adjunct professor at universities. Her current work includes guest lecturing at local high schools and the Swiss Hotel Management School in Switzerland, teaching classes as an associate professor for the business department at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota since 2020, and staying active in industry organizations.   

As part of her role at SCF, Anderson helped create the hospitality and tourism program in the business department. The program offers an Associate in Science degree and has grown to 108 enrolled students. Through her classes and the program, Anderson immerses her students in interactive business career preparation, including job readiness support, field trips and networking training events.

“I love interacting with students in class as well as helping them polish their resume, practice interview questions and connect with my network,” she said. “I have taken groups of students to the Bradenton Area Convention Center, The Westin Sarasota and the Art Ovation Hotel for behind-the-scenes experiences.”

When she was an employer in the hospitality industry, Anderson saw the potential of college students. She sought to hire college graduates because they understood how to take directions and accomplish a goal. Today, she would encourage students interested in business careers to get involved early in SCF’s events and clubs to aid in social and professional development.

“Make the most of your time here, as the friendships you make in college will often be lifelong, and at the very least, will help support you in your career goals,” Anderson said.

As a college educator and lifelong learner, Anderson has started a Doctor of Philosophy in Community Psychology with a focus on changing laws and finding grants to help students from underserved backgrounds. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Argosy University, a Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Florida Southern College.

“I love that in higher education, you can uncover new passions,” she said. “Through teaching diverse classes, I have uncovered a love of organizational behavior (why people do what they do in business).”

Outside of teaching, Anderson loves spending evenings catching up with close friends and watching favorite TV shows together. She is grateful for the strong bonds with her family, friends and colleagues, who jumped in to help her during her cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“In my life, I have experienced many challenges; they are just a part of life you must get through,” Anderson said. “I like to think of it as a happiness tax – I get to do so many amazing things, like skydiving over the Australian Great Barrier Reef and seeing the great works of art. The universe needs to balance itself.”  

Anderson has set her sights on her next overseas trips. She wants to teach in Switzerland again in 2026 and celebrate her 50th birthday in Egypt in 2027.

In her professional future, Anderson envisions teaching abroad during the summer and continuing to teach at SCF during the fall and spring. She values SCF for its accessibility, dedicated faculty, high academic standards and classroom and career support for students.

“I love that all the professors I have interacted with are so passionate about what they do and genuinely love their students,” she said. “We expect a lot from our students, but we also offer a lot of extra support wherever it is needed.”