Damla Sönmez
Assistant Professor, Montana State University, USA
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Damla Sönmez is an Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at Montana State University. She completed her master’s degree in Hospitality Management at the University of South Florida and her PhD at the University of South Carolina, where her dissertation explored how gamification can enhance orientation and training programs. During her doctoral studies she was recognized with the Outstanding Doctoral Student Teaching Award for two consecutive years.
Her teaching emphasizes experiential learning, student engagement, and innovative approaches such as gamification and AI-supported instruction. Her research centers on human-centric engagement, including human resources, consumer behavior, and classroom learning environments. With professional experience in training and development, she examines how creative and interactive strategies can strengthen service quality and educational outcomes.
Originally from Türkiye, Dr. Sönmez brings a multicultural perspective, a mentorship style rooted in care and connection, and a hospitality-inspired dedication to making every learning environment feel inclusive, engaging, and genuinely welcoming.
Professor Levent Altinay will share his experience of successful funding applications to the prestigious funding bodies including EU, Horizon, ESRC (Economic Social Research Council), Newton, British Academy, British Council and TUBITAK. During the workshop, Altinay will cover a wide range of topics including creative idea generation for research funding, formation of multidisciplinary research consortiums, use of networks, research design, dissemination of research findings and the generation of academically robust, practically meaningful research impact.