Bucher Joins Purdue HTM as Clinical Assistant Professor

Two millennial women female friends sitting outdoors eating takeaway food, laughing and having fun. Food delivery and takeout.

Author: Abby Lillpop

Purdue University’s White Lodging–J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is pleased to welcome Dr. Shawn Bucher as a new clinical assistant professor.

Bucher brings a unique blend of industry expertise and academic experience to Purdue. With an accomplished career spanning nearly every segment of the hospitality industry – as an operator, owner, consultant, and educator – he has also spent more than a decade working in healthcare. A self-described “pracademic,” he combines the best of professional practice and scholarship to prepare students for meaningful careers.

Bucher holds multiple degrees and certificates in Culinary Arts, Business, Retail, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Accounting, and Professional Sales. He is a Certified Executive Chef (CEC) and Certified Culinary Educator (CCE) through the American Culinary Federation. Beyond the classroom and kitchen, he is the author of The First Timer’s Cookbook and Food People Management, and was the creator and host of the Business Chef podcast. His work has been widely recognized, earning awards at both the state and national level, including Chef Educator of the Year (2015) and the President’s Award (2013) from the Beehive State Chefs Association.

This semester, Chef Shawn is teaching HTM 141: Financial Accounting for Service Industries, HTM 290: Food and Beverage Management, and HTM 513: Strategy in Service Industries. His research interests center on chefs, foodservice operations, business strategy, and entrepreneurship.

Reflecting on his move to Purdue, Bucher shared his excitement, “Purdue has such a rich history of hospitality excellence, and I am incredibly grateful to be a part of such a storied and well-recognized program. Having spent much of my childhood on a farm in southern Idaho, I love being back amongst the cornfields, as it feels like home.”

Bucher’s impact is already taking shape in the classroom, where he draws on his wide-ranging background in operations, sales, and business ownership. “I am excited to bring my industry love and knowledge to the next generation of hospitalitarians. With my diverse background, I hope to help students navigate the complex and diverse challenges of today’s business world, avoiding the mistakes that I myself made,” he said.

With his energy, expertise, and student-centered approach, Dr. Shawn Bucher adds a dynamic new perspective to Purdue HTM’s tradition of excellence.