Office Hours: Flexible and by appointment only. Please email: maeve.perle@osucascades.edu to schedule an appointment.
I am a lifelong learner, educator, hospitality professional, entrepreneur, and passionate believer in the power of a fun, energetic, and collaborative learning environment. I believe the best classrooms are those where curiosity is encouraged, experiences are shared, and students feel empowered to discover their own path to success.
My career in hospitality has taken me around the world and given me the extraordinary opportunity to experience the industry from nearly every angle. I have worked in an airline catering kitchen in Ireland, a Wendy’s in Germany, and a five-star resort in Guam, where I began as a management trainee. I worked with the International Hotel Association in Paris, owned a bar in Bend, and, with my husband, launched a unique chain of seminar châteaux in France—now encompassing more than 60+ historic properties. I have also created and built a successful sauce company in Bend. Each experience has taught me something new about hospitality, business, people, and the world.
My educational background includes a Hotel & Catering degree, Travel Agent certification, a Bachelor of Science in Management, and a Master’s degree in Hospitality. I have been teaching at the college level for more than 20 years, with courses spanning Wines & Beverage Management, Restaurant Management, ServSafe, Event Planning & Management, Customer Service Management, Lodging Management, Business Communications, Business 101, Vacation Property Management, and Advanced Hospitality Management.
I am currently privileged to teach in the OSU Hospitality Program, where I have been teaching for more than nine years, now entirely online.
Beyond hospitality and education, I am passionate about travel, gourmet food, fine wine, entertaining, and creating memorable experiences. I am also a voracious reader, certified yoga, breathwork, and meditation teacher, and lifelong lover of music. One of my greatest interests is the science and practice of happiness and positive psychology.
That passion led me to create A Wee Bit Happier, a retreat company and online learning community focused on helping people cultivate greater happiness and well-being. My online courses have reached more than 7,500 students in 146+ countries, and the @AWeeBitHappier community has grown to more than 133,000 followers.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have built a career that combines my love of hospitality, education, travel, entrepreneurship, and—most importantly—people. My goal, whether in the classroom or beyond, is always to make learning meaningful, practical, engaging, and, whenever possible, a little bit happier.