Professor Brian Tyrrell Named LIGHT Director as Jane Bokunewicz to Retire
Jane Bokunewicz, PhD
Brian J. Tyrrell, Ph.D.
For immediate release with photos
March 30, 2026
Atlantic City, N.J. β Professor Brian Tyrrell has been named the new faculty director of the Lloyd D.
Levenson Institute for Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at Δ’Ή½ΆΜΚΣΖ΅,
effective July 1, succeeding Jane Bokunewicz, who will retire on June 30.
For more than two decades, Tyrrell has served as a faculty member in the Hospitality,
Tourism and Event Management program in the School of Business at Δ’Ή½ΆΜΚΣΖ΅. He served
as the Interim Director for the New Jersey Center for Hospitality and Tourism Research
Center, before it was commissioned as LIGHT and played a role in the instituteβs initial
formation.
βHaving been part of LIGHTβs development from its early stages, Iβve seen firsthand
the impact it can have in connecting research, industry and student opportunity,β
Tyrrell said. βI look forward to expanding our partnerships, advancing meaningful
research, training industry professionals and continuing to support the growth of
Atlantic Cityβs gaming, hospitality and tourism sectors.β
Bokunewicz, also a professor of Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management at Δ’Ή½ΆΜΚΣΖ΅
and a former executive in the casino industry, has served as LIGHTβs faculty director
since 2020.
Among LIGHTβs accomplishments during her time as its director, Bokunewicz oversaw
the launch of the International Journal of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism, the start
of two industry-focused certificate programs at Δ’Ή½ΆΜΚΣΖ΅, the presentation of more
than 20 webinars and the publication of the Atlantic City Casino Industry Impact Report
in collaboration with the Casino Association of New Jersey.
Under Bokunewiczβs leadership, LIGHT has also built a reputation as a trusted source
for media across the country for research and analysis of the Atlantic City casino
industry and the South Jersey economy.
It has been one of the greatest honors of my career to serve as the faculty director of LIGHT..."
βIt has been one of the greatest honors of my career to serve as the faculty director of LIGHT because of the privilege of working with our esteemed advisory board of Atlantic City industry leaders and Assistant Director Sarah Grady to advance LIGHTβs mission,β Bokunewicz said. βWe have accomplished a lot together in the last six years.β
William Minnis, the interim dean of Δ’Ή½ΆΜΚΣΖ΅βs School of Business, praised Bokunewicz saying he was βdeeply grateful for her outstanding leadership and the strong foundation she has built for LIGHTβs continued success.β He also said Tyrrellβs appointment βmarks an exciting new chapter for both the institute and the university.β
βBrianβs long-standing commitment to Δ’Ή½ΆΜΚΣΖ΅ and his expertise in hospitality and tourism make him exceptionally well suited to lead LIGHT,β Minnis said. βHe brings both continuity and a forward-looking vision that will strengthen the instituteβs impact on our students, our research enterprise and the regional economy.β
Prior to working at Δ’Ή½ΆΜΚΣΖ΅, Tyrrell served on the faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegasβ William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. He received his Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University in Indiana where for three years he both taught and conducted research for the institution.
βIβm honored to step into this role at LIGHT and build on the instituteβs legacy that Jane has worked so hard to establish over the past several years,β Tyrrell said.
