Rebecca Rhoads was adopted by parents Karin and Thomas. The fact that she was born from a teen mother has given her such a greater appreciation for the amazing life, love and opportunities that her adoptive parents have given her thus far. She would not have had the privilege to travel both domestically and internationally throughout her childhood, had she not been adopted. Rebecca has gained a vast appreciation for the customer service and genuine hospitality that she and her family had experienced during these various excursions.

Furthermore, the catering and food and beverage industries have always been areas in which Rebecca has been heavily involved with, as her father worked as a chef and caterer for all of Rebecca's childhood. Additionally, she grew up with a vast understanding of her mother's Italian culture that shined brightly through her mother's and grandmother's authentic cooking. That being said, she has found the food and beverage industry to be her niche within the larger spectrum of the tourism and hospitality industry.

She joined the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University, in the fall of 2010. Rebecca joined the Temple University Chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association the same year, and served as President last year, also becoming the recipient of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter Student Scholarship for the annual conference, held in San Diego, California. In that same year, Rebecca attained her first part-time job within the industry at the Liacouras Center, an event venue home to the Temple University Men's Basketball team. Rebecca still works at the Liacouras Center and continues to work there occasionally, as she has just accepted a senior internship and job post-graduation at the William Penn Inn, a restaurant and banquet facility located in Gwynedd, Pennsylvania.

Rebecca cannot express enough the significant impact that the School of Tourism and Hospitality and its faculty has had upon her professional development thus far. Furthermore, without her real life experience volunteering, interning, and working part-time within the industry, Rebecca would not possess the level of professional development that she has had thus far.