Education
B.S. in Park and Recreation Administration, Illinois State University; M.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, Western Illinois University; Ph.D. in Park, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University. CHE, CTA.

Expertise & Research Interests

• Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events (MICE)
• Visitor Inquiry Studies

Career Highlights
Tourism industry experience includes working with a group tour company and spending five years as research manager for the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau; has conducted numerous funded and/or sponsored research projects for convention and visitor bureaus and in the meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE) sector; author or co-author of 40-plus peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings/presentations; Managing Editor of Journal of Convention & Event Tourism; recipient of Hilton College Service Award in 2020; Hilton College Stephen Rushmore/HVS Faculty Research Award in 2013; Award of Excellence from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University in 2008; first recipient of the Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award from Western Illinois University’s Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration in 2008.