The Academy was saddened to hear of the passing of one of our Fellows and friend, Valene L. Smith. Valene was a founder of tourism anthropology and inspired many with her ground breaking work. She is perhaps best known for her book "Host and Guests" (1977, University of Pennsylvania Press).

She taught in the Anthropology department at Chico State University (CSU), California USA from 1967 to 1998 where she founded the tourism curriculum and internship program. She was nominated Outstanding Professor in 1981-1982. Valene was instrumental in the founding of Chico Museum after the City Library was moved in1980. She helped to create and expand the Museum of Anthropology (now the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology) for CSU, Chico students and the Chico community, gifting over $4.6 million to the museum. Valene was elected as President of the newly formed Chico Museum Association in 1980 and strongly supported the creation of the Chico History Museum in 2018.

She, along with other community members, had a vision to share local, historical and traveling exhibits with the citizens of Chico. She also founded an anthropology lecture series at her university.

She was revered internationally for her scholarship and was awarded the UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge | UNWTO in 2020. She was also a founding and active Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism.

We will miss her brilliant mind and her vivacious approach to life, and send condolences to her family and all who knew her. Please join us as we remember an extraordinary woman.

Pauline Sheldon and Karl Wöber