University Communication is putting a new twist on how Nebraska Today delivers stories about our state’s flagship university and the students, faculty and staff who flourish here.

We’ve thrown our microphones into the ring with Faculty 101, a podcast series that delivers regular insights — some serious, others silly — into the work and lives of Husker faculty.

Listen: Faculty 101 with Dipra Jha

Dipra Jha, a hospitality expert who travels the globe while advising some of the world’s most luxurious resorts, joins host Mary Jane Bruce in the latest episode of Faculty 101.

Jha discusses his work as a professor-in-residence with one of India’s “jewel box” resorts and Las Vegas’ Venetian-Palazzo, the largest Five Diamond hotel in the world. The associate professor of hospitality, restaurant and tourism management also talks about his efforts to fulfill the university’s land-grant mission by collaborating with industry professionals in Nebraska City, Columbus and other Cornhusker communities.

Later, Jha delves into how he brings those worldly professional experiences to the classroom, where he aims to develop students that employers will value not just for what they know, but what they can do. He explains the industry’s latest trends – especially the ways that technology is driving personalized hospitality to once-unimaginable levels – and the importance of getting students to think creatively about the industry’s future.

Bruce closes the episode by asking Jha about fighting jet lag, getting the most out of an overseas trip, and being inspired to move from the industry to the classroom.

Faculty 101 episodes will be featured here on Nebraska Today, but you can also subscribe via iTunes and Stitcher. Additional podcast delivery systems will be announced as they come online.

As always, we welcome your feedback. If you like the podcast, please subscribe and share it via a favorite social media channel. You can also offer us feedback and story ideas by sending email to nebraskatoday@unl.edu or calling 402-472-8515.