David A. Edwards is the Dean of the Gus Machado College of Business. Dr. Edwards joined STU in 2021, as the founding director of the Culinary Arts, Tourism and Hospitality Management program. Prior to that he was the Chair of the College of Hospitality Management at Johnson & Wales University’s North Miami campus.

Dr. Edwards has a diverse professional background, spanning the sports media, the hotel industry and academia. His media career included work in newspaper and radio, while his hotel experience saw him holding leadership positions in Property Operations and Public Relations, working for internationally renowned resort companies. He earned his doctoral degree from St. Thomas University, and graduate and undergraduate from Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, as well as a Diploma in Teaching from Church Teachers’ College, Mandeville, Jamaica.

Among his areas of expertise are Tourism Policy and Strategic & Performance Management. He has spearheaded the development of several new academic programs and sits on a number of industry advisory boards, and has presented papers on a range of topics at several national and international conferences.

Recognized by Legacy Magazine as a top black educator, Dr. Edwards believes in a global, multi-cultural approach to education and has led international educational experiences to Australia, Ireland, Portugal, and South Africa.

Passionate about accessible education, Dean Roche leverages digital platforms to reach a broader audience. He hosts a YouTube channel, maintains an educational blog, and produces three educational podcasts, furthering his mission to enhance teaching effectiveness and student success. Dr. Roche also holds numerous prestigious certifications, including the American Culinary Federation’s Certified Executive Chef (CEC) and Certified Culinary Educator (CCE), the National Restaurant Association’s Foodservice Management Professional (FMP), and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute’s Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE).