Dr. Zhong is an Assistant Professor at Rosen College of Hospitality Management and a research faculty member of the Disability, Aging & Technology (DAT) Cluster at UCF. Her research and consulting interests lie at the intersection of hospitality experience, aging and disability, and technology application. Her long-term objective is to leverage technology to enhance human experiences in the hospitality and tourism, senior living, and healthcare sectors.

Dr. Zhong has published in top-tiered peer-reviewed journals, including the International Journal of Hospitality Management, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, and the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research. She has a proven record of securing both internal and external funding, including grants from the Florida Department of Health, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Science Foundation. Additionally, Dr. Zhong is skilled in collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and maintaining strong relationships with industry and community partners. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Legacy Pointe at UCF. Other community partners she has been engaging in include Florida Senior Living Association, AARP, Senior First, Harbor Chase, LIFE at UCF, Orlando Health, Hospitality Health, Travelability, Experience Kissimmee, Limitless Solutions,  and CareerSource.

Dr. Zhong holds a Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration from University of Nevada Las Vegas and a master’s in hospitality and Tourism Management from UCF. Prior to joining UCF, she held academic appointments at California State University, Long Beach, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.