Surrounding himself with different pictures and artifacts that symbolize the Hindu religion, Dr. Brian Collins immerses himself in the religions he studies in many different aspects. Collins, who earned his Ph.D. in history of religions from the University of Chicago, has a wide range of expertise in Hinduism as well as a strong knowledge in Buddhism.

Dr. Zhou earned her Ph.D. in a research methodology program from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her major research interests include longitudinal research and multilevel modeling, latent trait measurement models, structural equation modeling, and the application of mixed methods research. Zhou also has strong interest and expertise in psychometric methods and quantitative data analysis, such as factor analysis and item response theory. Dr.

Scanlan is a professor of Sociology at Ohio University. His research interests include development and comparative social change, environmental sociology, social stratification and social movements.  More specifically his published research has examined environmental justice and poverty in Appalachia; food deserts; food insecurity and the environment; gender and development; global hunger; and greenwashing and corporate environmental communication.

Tony M. Vinci lives at the crossroads of popular culture and literary history. He teaches classes on HBO’s Game of Thrones and Holocaust literature, fantasy in young adult literature and literary modernisms, androids in film and African American literature. His scholarship is as diverse as his classes, including publications on ghosts, animals, and African American identities in the literature of William Faulkner; trauma in the science fiction of Philip K. Dick; and the ethical confrontation explored by contemporary filmmakers such as Joss Whedon and Guillermo del Toro.

Every day seems to bring a new story about vacation, tourism and travel. As travelers share every leg of their journeys on social media, one thing has become abundantly clear – consumers shape their own experiences. Working at a five star hotel in Beijing led Dr. Sandy Chen to her life’s work – researching, writing and teaching about the hospitality industry with a focus on how guests affected their own service experience.