David Cárdenas — dean of UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hospitality — is an expert on tourism planning, sustainable development, and hospitality leadership and education.

His experience in both academic and administrative roles is wide-ranging. The Ecuador native has worked extensively in community-based tourism planning projects in the United States and abroad, engaging local residents in the sustainable tourism development process. Cárdenas’ international experience includes visiting professor posts at Shandong University in China, the Inter-Continental University of the Caribbean in Curacao, the University of Aruba, and Universidad San Francisco de Quito. In addition, he has helped develop strategic international partnerships in countries including Vietnam, South Korea, Qatar, Spain, Aruba, Peru, Colombia, Italy, England, Belize, Portugal, and Oman.
Prior to joining UNLV in March 2024, he served in university faculty and leadership roles including as the associate dean of academic programs for the University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. In that role, Cárdenas oversaw curriculum, international programs, student services, and alumni and corporate engagement.

As a researcher, Cárdenas has examined topics such as technology adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic, theme park demand, and racial discrimination in tourism. His work has been published in peer-reviewed academic publications, including the Journal of Foodservice Business Research, Tourism Review International, and the International Journal of Event and Festival Management.