Amila Ramanayake, a 2009 Southeast Missouri State University graduate with a degree in hospitality management, has returned to SEMO as director of resident dining, after a career that has taken him across the United States.
Since August 2025, Ramanayake has served as part of SEMO’s dining leadership team, bringing decades of national experience back to Cape Girardeau. His career has included leadership roles at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, Arkansas Tech University, and Hastings College in Nebraska, among others.
Originally from Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ramanayake began his journey at SEMO in 2000, initially pursuing a degree in information technology before discovering his true passion lay in hospitality and culinary arts. He attended a culinary school in St. Louis before returning to SEMO to complete his degree, citing the program’s balance of theory and practical, project-based learning as transformative for his career.
“SEMO really shaped my life,” Ramanayake said. “The program was hands-on, and the professors, like Dr. Quantella Noto, held us to high standards because they wanted us to really learn. Coming back here is my way of giving back to the school that gave me so many opportunities.”
After graduation, Ramanayake left Cape Girardeau to join the corporate hospitality world, working for Hilton and later Marriott International, where he served as director of operations for multiple hotel properties. He traveled nationwide revamping hotel concepts, training teams and overseeing operations across departments including culinary, housekeeping and front desk management for more than a decade.
“It’s a big deal to go from Cape Girardeau to corporate Marriott,” said Dr. Quantella Noto, associate professor of management at SEMO. “Amila is an amazing human being. Gentle, determined, and focused—he kept his eye on the prize despite the challenges of being far from home.”
When the director position opened at SEMO, Ramanayake was excited to return to the area.
“Coming back to Cape and SEMO feels like coming home,” Ramanayake said. “This is my home away from home, and it’s incredible to contribute to the school and community that gave me so much.”
Ramanayake’s journey from Sri Lanka to Cape Girardeau and across the U.S. hospitality industry exemplifies SEMO’s commitment to preparing students for real-world success while fostering lifelong connections with faculty, peers and the campus community.
Enter a fulfilling career in hospitality management at semo.edu/hospitality-management.