Kansas State University

Graduate Student Profiles
(Ph.D. Program)

Ainul Z. Abu Baker

Degree(s):
  • M.B.A. Graduate School of Management, University Putra Malaysia
  • B.S. Nutrition and Community of Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Putra Malaysia
Research Interest:
Services Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Branding
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Hospitality Management & Dietetics, Kansas State University, KS
  • Tutor, Department of Foodservice and Management, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University Putra Malaysia
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Faculty of Business and Management, University Putra Malaysia.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Graduate School of Management, University Putra Malaysia
E-mail:

Juwon Choi

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Hospitality and Foodservice Management, Sejong University, Seoul, Korea
  • B.B.A. Tourism Management, National Institute for Lifelong Education, Seoul, Korea
  • B.S. Mathematics, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea
Research Interest:
Relationship Marketing, Culinary Tourism, Franchise Management
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Hospitality Management & Dietetics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
  • Instructor, Menu Management, Busan Women’s University, Busan, Korea
  • Instructor, Hospitality and Tourism Marketing, Busan Kyungsang College, Busan, Korea
  • Main Consultant, J.A.Partners, Inc., Seoul, Korea
  • Volunteer Work, Barista at Coffee Shop, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA
  • Amoje Marche Paper Competition Award, Seoul, Korea
  • Graduate Assistant, College of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul, Korea
  • District Manager, Cinnabon Bakery, Inc., Seoul, Korea
  • Sales Manager & Trainer, Espresso Korea Corporation, Seoul, Korea
  • Headwaiter & Administrator, Outback Steakhouse, Seoul, Korea
E-mail:

Sooyoung Choi

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
  • B.S. Spanish Language and Lieterature, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea
Research Interest:
Senior Retirement Destination, Destination Marketing, Service Marketing
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Hospitality Management & Dietetics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
E-mail:

Young Gin Choi

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston, TX
  • B.A. Toursim Management, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
Research Interest:
Consumer Behavior, Hospitality Operations, Food Service Marketing
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, HMD342 Food Production Management, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
  • Management Assistant, Housing and Dinning Services, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
  • Instructor, Hotel Practical English, Sejong University, Seoul, Korea
  • Instructor, Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, & Human Resources, Hyundai Technical College, Seoul, Korea
  • Instructor, Global Etiquette, GS Retail & Wemade Entertainment, Seoul, Korea
  • Supervisor, Guest Relations, Hampton Suites, Houston, TX
  • Sales Representative, Sheraton Brookhollow Hotel, Houston, TX
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Hospitality Management, University of Houston, TX
E-mail:

Jinsoo Hwang

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Hospitality Management, Florida International University, N. Miami, FL
  • M.S. Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul, Korea
  • B.S. Law, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Korea
Research Interest:
Restaurant Marketing and Operation, Consumer Behavior, Organizational Behavior
Professional Experience:
  • Instructor, Tourism Basic English, Kyungmin college, Kyunggi, Korea
  • Instructor, Hotel Technology, Hyejeon college, Choongnam, Korea
  • Instructor, Event Marketing, Jangan college, Kyunggi, Korea
  • Intern, Myung ga Tofu & BBQ Korean Restaurant, Miami, FL
  • Manager, Kan Entertainment Corporation, Seoul, Korea
  • Researcher, Tourism Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
  • Assistant, The Department of Hospitality & Tourism at Sejong University, Seoul, Korea
E-mail:

Jung-Hoon (Jay) Lee

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Hotel Administration, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)
  • B.B.A. Business Administration, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Korea
Research Interest:
Consumer Behavior, Organizational Behavior (Employee Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Emotional Labor), Hospitality Operations
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, HMD120 Survey of the Hospitality Industry & HMD220 Environmental Issues in Hospitality, Kansas State University, KS
  • Director of International Development, Sun at Food Co., Seoul, Korea
  • Director of Human Resources, Sun at Food Co., Seoul, Korea
  • General Manager, Tony Roma’s, Seoul, Korea
  • Manager, International Convention & Conference, CES co., Seoul, Korea
  • Front Office Manager, Hilton Fort Lee at George Washington Bridge, Fort Lee, NJ
  • Sales & Marketing Assistant, Millennium Hilton, Seoul, Korea
E-mail:

Yee Ming Lee

Degree(s):
  • M.S. with major in Nutrition, minor in Food Systems Administration, Texas Woman’s University, TX
  • B.S. (Honors) with major in Dietetics, University Science of Malaysia, Campus of Health Science, Malaysia
Research Interest:
Food Safety, Employee Satisfaction and Turnover in Hospital Foodservice
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Hospitality Management and Dietetics, Kansas State University, KS
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Introductory to Nutrition, Texas Woman’s University, TX
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Computer Use in Nutrition and Foodservice Management, Texas Woman’s University, TX
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Texas Woman’s University, TX
  • Catering Dietitian, Besta Foodservices, Malaysia
  • Clinical Dietitian, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore
E-mail:

Pei Liu

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston, TX
  • B.S. Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Institute of Light Industry, China
Research Interest:
Healthy Food Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Food Safety, Food Security, and Solid Waste Management in Foodservice
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Research Assistant, USDA National Integrated Food Safety Initiatives Grant, Kansas State University, KS
  • Sales and Marketing Intern, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
  • Hilton Revenue Management on-line Training Program, Houston, TX
  • Librarian Assistant, Conrad N. Hilton College Library, Houston, TX
  • Server/Cashier, Eric’s Restaurant, Houston, TX
  • Front desk agent, J.S. Dental D. C., Houston, TX
  • Office Clerk, Tianjin Jingwei Medicine Company Limited, Tianjin, China
  • Salesman, The Home World Group, Tianjin, China
E-mail:

Laura McKnight

Degree(s):
  • Master in Public Health (MPH), Idaho State University, ID
  • B.S. in Dietetics, Idaho State University, ID
Research Interest:
Dietetics Education, Service Learning, Management Careers in Dietetics
Professional Experience:
  • Clinical Associate Professor/DPD Director, Idaho State University, ID
  • Dietitian/Purchaser for School District #25, Pocatello, ID
  • Clinical Dietitian/Clinical Dietetics Coordinator for Pocatello Regional Medical Center, Pocatello, ID
E-mail:

David Olds

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Foodservice and Lodging Management, Iowa State University
  • B.S. Hotel, Restaurant, & Institution Management, Iowa State University
Research Interest:
Customers' Ethnic Foodservice Perceptions, Food Production Management Strategies, Environmental and Waste Management Strategies in Foodservice, Rapid Microbiological Detection methods in Foodservice, Food Safety, Food Security
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, HMD 341 Principles of Food Production Management, HMD 420 Environmental Issues in Hospitality, HMD 421 Hospitality Service Systems, Kansas State University, KS
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, HRI 380L Quantity Foods Production Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
  • Over 20 years of work experience in restaurant, private clubs, and hospitals (General Manager, Executive Chef, Sous Chef, Cater, and Cook)
E-mail:
Web Site:
http://www.davidolds.com

Sarinya Sungkatavat

Degree(s):
  • MBA, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
  • Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.), Architecture, Rangsit University, Thailand
Research Interest:
Organizational Behavior, Hospitality Operations, Innovation Management in Hospitality Industry
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Assistant, International Student and Scholar Services, Kansas State University
  • Research Assistant, Urban Design, Faculty of Architecture, Rangsit University, Thailand
  • Architect and Sales Architect, House Component Co.Ltd., Thailand
  • Presenter of Alucobond products to English speakers at the Architect Exhibition 2002, Thailand
  • Organizer and Presenter of Windsor products to engineers and architects at the Architect Exhibition 2006, Thailand
  • Special guest lecturer on the topic: "Vinyl & Construction Materials" at Rangsit University, Silpakorn Unversity, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart Unversity, Thailand
  • Special guest lecturer on the topic: "Materials for Energy Saving" for graduated student at Kasetsart Unversity, Thailand
E-mail:

Kelly R. Thompson

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Food Science, Sensory Science, Kansas State University, KS
  • B.A. Family & Consumer Science, California State University Sacramento, CA
Research Interest:
Foodservice, Wine Education
Professional Experience:
  • Instructor, HMD 442 Introduction to Wines, Food Science Institute
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, HMD 341 Food Production Management, HMD 340 Controlled Beverages, HN 413 Science of Foods, HN 132 Basic Nutrition
  • Sensory Science Intern, Kellogg’s, Battle Creek, MI
  • Management Experience; Bel Air Markets, Sacramento, CA
E-mail:

Wen-Shen (Fiona) Yen

Degree(s):
  • M.S. Restaurant, Hotel and Institution Management, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • B.A. Food and Beverage Management, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
Research Interest:
Senior Care Foodservice Management, Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Hospitality Industry
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Research Assistant, USDA Food Safety, Kansas State University, KS
  • Instructor: Meal planning, Jin Wen University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Research Assistant, Developed standard criteria for vocational courses. Executive Yuan, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Low-Back Musculoskeletal Issues in the Workplace. Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Teaching Assistant, Western Culinary, French Culinary and Nutrition, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
E-mail:

Mattew VanSchenkhof

Degree(s):
  • M.A. Teaching, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA
  • B.A. B.S. Hotel Restaurant Management, Minor in Business, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Research Interest:
Organizational Literacy, Organizational Behavior, Operational Training
Professional Experience:
  • General Manager/Chef, Sodexo USA (Manhattan, KS; Boston, MA; St. Paul, MN)
  • Operations Manager, Taher Senior Foodservice, Minnetonka, MN
  • Sanitation Supervisor, LSG Skychefs, Bloomington, MN
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, HMD 424 Hospitality Marketing, HMD 422 Cost Controls in Hospitality Operations, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
E-mail: