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Ph.D. Student Profiles


Meet the scholars shaping the future of tourism, hospitality and event management.

Current THEM Ph.D. Students

Brianna Blassneck smiles at the camera

Brianna Blassneck

Primary fields of interest: Youth Development, Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors, Youth Programming, Environmental Justice, Sustainable Event Management, and Ecotourism

Committee Chair: Dr. Heather Gibson

Email: bblassneck@dce.ufl.edu

Blassneck CV (PDF)

Brianna Blassneck, CMP is a Graduate Assistant within the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management and currently instructs Convention Sales and Service for the residential and UF Online sections.

Completing this graduate program will make Blassneck a triple-gator as she has earned her B.S. and M.S. at UF in Recreation, Parks and Tourism. She obtained the Certified Meeting Professional designation in 2019 and Virtual Event and Meeting Management Certification in 2020 following the impacts of COVID-19 on the events industry.

Ying-Chen Chen smiles at the camera.

Ying-Chen (Anny) Chen

Primary fields of interest: Immersive technologies in tourism, aging and leisure behavior, and sport tourism

Committee Chair: Dr. Heather Gibson

Email: yingchen.chen@ufl.edu

Chen CV (PDF)

Ying-Chen (Anny) Chen is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at the University of Florida. She earned both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Leisure Management from National Pingtung University, where she graduated as valedictorian in both programs. Her master’s thesis explored relationship-perception chains related to travel apps, reflecting her early interest in technology’s impact on tourism.

Her research spans topics such as immersive technologies in tourism, aging and leisure behavior, and sport tourism. She has presented at several international conferences, including The Academy of Leisure Sciences, the Leisure Studies Association Conference in Scotland, and the Decision Sciences Institute in the U.S.

Before pursuing her Ph.D., Ying-Chen served as a full-time research assistant on projects funded by Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology, focusing on digital consumer behavior and online systems. At UF, she is involved in multi-generational research on senior games and the use of immersive technologies among older adults, under the mentorship of Dr. Heather Gibson.

Won Ji Chung smiles at the camera.

Won Ji Chung

Primary fields of interest:

Committee Chair:

Email: wonji.chung@ufl.edu

Won Ji Chung CV (PDF)

Won Ji Chung is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at the University of Florida.

Rayven Crisafulli smiles at the camera

Rayven Crisafulli

Primary fields of interest: Event Experience, AI & Virtual Events, Entrepreneurship in the Events Industry, and the Impact of Service Quality

Committee Chair: Dr. Rachel Fu

Email: rayven.g@ufl.edu

Crisafulli CV (PDF)

Rayven Crisafulli, CMP, CMP-HC is a Ph.D. student, Graduate Teaching Assistant, and Event Management Instructor in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at the University of Florida.

Rayven graduated summa cum laude from UF with her bachelor’s in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, with a specialization in Event Management in 2013.

She then began her career as an event planner within UF’s Department of Continuing Medical Education. During her time there, she planned and executed the logistics of over 80 medical education events held throughout the US and abroad.

She also obtained her CMPCertification and her CMP-HC Certification. In 2019, while still working at UF, she opened her own wedding planning business where she helped design, plan, and manage the weddings of couples in the Gainesville area. After spending 7 years as a full-time event planner, Rayven returned to her alma mater to pursue a career in teaching and research.

Rezvan Eftekhary smiles at the camera.

Rezvan Eftekhary

Primary fields of interest:

Committee Chair:

Email: rezvan.eftekhary@ufl.edu

Rezvan Eftekhary CV (PDF)

Rezvan Eftekhary is a Ph.D. student in in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management at the University of Florida.

Shizhen (Jasper) Jia

Primary fields of interest: Tourist Mobility, Destination Management, and Tourism Planning and Development

Committee Chair: Oscar (Hengxuan) Chi, Ph.D.

Email: shizhen.jia@ufl.edu

Jasper Jia CV (PDF)

Shizhen (Jasper) Jia is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management at the University of Florida.

The overarching goal of his research is to help individuals understand the benefits and risks of adopting advanced technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence) in the hospitality and tourism domain.

Moreover, he has been intensively trained in quantitative methods (e.g. lab and field experimental design, survey, and econ analysis), qualitative methods (e.g. focus group, case study, and interview), and analytical approaches (e.g. multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, surface response analysis, and big data analytics).

He has several publications, including such outlets as Computer in Human Behaviors, Information Technology & People, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, British Food Journal, International Conference on Information Systems, and others.

Elena Hwirim Jo smiles at the camera.

Elena Hwirim Jo

Committee Chair: Oscar (Hengxuan) Chi, Ph.D.

Email: hw.jo@ufl.edu

Elena Hwirim Jo is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management at the University of Florida.

Dahye Jung smiles at the camera

Dahye Jung

Primary fields of interest: Event Participation and Planning Focused on Tourists and Host Communities

Committee Chair: Dr. Heather Gibson

Email: dahyejung@ufl.edu

Dahye Jung CV (PDF)

Dahye Jung is a Ph.D. student and graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management at the University of Florida, working with Dr. Heather Gibson.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Tourism Development and worked at a research institute for five years, participating in research projects related to community development.

Her research aims to improve the quality of life for both tourists and host communities within the tourism context. To achieve this goal, Dahye focuses on the perspectives of both visitors and residents, and studies events and festivals to engage diverse individuals in tourism activities.

Currently, her research interest is small-scale local events, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods to explore motivations and experiences related to event participation.

Working with her academic advisor, Dr. Heather Gibson, Dahye is studying sport event participation among mid and later-life adults and sustainable events strategy.

Jiwoo Jung smiles at the camera

Jiwoo Jung

Primary fields of interest: Community Sustainability via Tourism, Econometric and Geospatial Approach

Committee Chair: Dr. Jin-Won Kim

Email: jiwoo.jung@ufl.edu

Jiwoo Jung CV (PDF)

Jiwoo Jung is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at the University of Florida, working with Dr. Jinwon Kim to further her research goals. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Tourism, Leisure, and Recreation, her passion for tourism stems from her belief that it is a crucial social phenomenon that promotes cultural exchange and enriches people’s lives.

As a dedicated tourism scholar, her ultimate goal is to understand and promote the crucial role of tourism, leisure, and recreation in creating active, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Her research interest is sustainable local community development through tourism, utilizing geospatial and behavioral economic methodologies to comprehensively address all triple bottom lines of sustainability. Her primary focus is addressing sustainability challenges in local communities, employing a geospatial and econometric approach.

Currently, she is studying the relationship between community gentrification and peer-to-peer accommodation, which undermines the community’s sustainability. Her research is critical in providing insight into sustainable tourism and community development.

Jiwoo is highly committed to conducting research that contributes to community sustainability. She is passionate about advancing her field and strives to lead the forefront of innovative research.

Ahmad Syah smiles at the camera.

Ahmad Syah

Primary fields of interest: AI applications in hospitality, sustainable decision-making and human-AI collaboration in service sectors

Committee Chair: Dr. Fatemah Binesh

Email: syah.am@ufl.edu

Ahmad Syah CV (PDF)

Ahmad Syah is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at the University of Florida. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of East London and a Master of Science from Boston University, where he focused on tourism policy and development. He also completed a Graduate Certificate in Project Management at BU. Ahmad earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication from Universitas Bung Karno in Indonesia, graduating with distinction.

His research examines the intersection of artificial intelligence, sustainability, and ethics within the tourism and hospitality industries. Current projects explore AI-generated nudges, digital empathy, and fairness in AI-assisted decision-making. He has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and is working on grant-funded projects related to human-AI synergy, stakeholder engagement, and responsible innovation in service settings.

Before joining UF, Ahmad held academic and industry roles across Southeast Asia and the United States, including as a lecturer and research coordinator at Naresuan University International College in Thailand. He also has extensive professional experience in hospitality sales, marketing, and event coordination, having worked with global brands such as Marriott, Accor, and PHM Hotels.

At UF, Ahmad assists in teaching courses including Principles of Travel and Tourism and Smart Cities, Attractions, and Theme Parks. He is also the current president of the Indonesian Student Association in America (PERMIAS) at UF.

Ph.D. Placements Since 2018

Alumni of our Ph.D. program are respected as outstanding educators in universities, researchers for private companies and more. Meet some remarkable graduates of our THEM doctoral program.

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