Kris Schoonover, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, School of Hospitality Leadership, University of Wisconsin-Stout

Kris Schoonover teaches and conducts research in the areas of customer experience management, human capital development, and training practices for the golf industry. Kris works closely with the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Wisconsin Golf Course Owners Association. She regularly speaks at both national and international conferences and has participated on industry advisory boards. She is particularly prominent as a strong advocate of smaller golf courses in the development of best practices for owners to maximize revenues, retain great staff and stay current with the golf industry’s best practices.

Kris is a practitioner as well, having served more than 25 years in the golf industry through coaching, teaching, and working in golf operations. In 2007 Kris starting working at Erin Hills Golf Course, where is Director of Operations/Assistant Competition Director. She has worked closely with the USGA in hosting three championships at Erin Hills: the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, the 2011 U.S. Amateur and the 2017 U.S. Open.