Christine A Cleaver

Christine Cleaver is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, where she teaches across the event management curriculum with a focus on experiential learning, innovation, and industry-integrated education. A passionate educator and practitioner, she brings more than 20 years of experience in event design, production, hospitality, and strategic partnership development.

Christine’s academic work centers on advancing experiential learning models in event, sport, and hospitality education. Her doctoral research investigates the impact of high-impact practices on career readiness and professional identity development, drawing on frameworks such as Kolb’s Experiential Learning and the NACE competencies. She is committed to bridging theory and practice to prepare students for an evolving industry. Throughout her career, Christine has cultivated a reputation for building transformative, hands-
on learning experiences that connect students directly with industry partners. At NYU, she integrates real-world client projects into her courses—working with organizations such as PCMA, PRLA, CVBs, and global hospitality brands—to give students immersive opportunities in event design, marketing, operations, and strategic planning. She also advises the NYU PCMA Student Chapter and champions student engagement in professional development, credentialing, and competitions.

Christine is deeply involved in professional associations, serving in leadership roles with the PCMA Philadelphia Chapter, Faculty Program Chair for PCMA Convening Leaders 2026, NENA Federation of ICHRIE Director of Conferences & Events for the 2026 regional conference, and the PRLA Education Foundation. She works closely with committees on education, conference design, AI integration, and student engagement, and collaborates frequently with industry executives and academic peers on curriculum innovation. As an event design and education consultant, Christine specializes in speaker management, program design, curriculum development, and strategic project management. Her work spans higher education, associations, hospitality organizations, and mission-driven brands, with a focus on creating inclusive, sustainable, and community-centered event experiences.

Known for her student-centered teaching philosophy, Christine combines academic rigor with creativity, collaboration, and real-world relevance. Her work reflects a deep commitment to preparing the next generation of event leaders to navigate a dynamic, tech-enabled, and purpose- driven industry.