Dr. Zhong is an Assistant Professor at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and a research faculty member of the Disability, Aging & Technology (DAT) Cluster at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Her research and consulting work focus on the intersection of hospitality experience, aging and disability, and technological innovation. Her long-term goal is to harness technology to improve human experiences across hospitality and tourism, senior living, and healthcare settings.

Dr. Zhong’s research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals such as the International Journal of Hospitality Management, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, and the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research. She has a strong record of securing both internal and external research funding, including grants from the Florida Department of Health, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Zhong has led and collaborated on numerous interdisciplinary projects that bridge the fields of hospitality, gerontology, public health, and technology. Her collaborations span UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Nursing, College of Health Professions and Sciences, College of Community Innovation and Education, the Institute for Simulation and Training, and the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute. She actively fosters partnerships with industry and community organizations to translate research into practical applications. Dr. Zhong currently serves on the Board of Directors for Legacy Pointe at UCF, and her community engagement includes partnerships with the Florida Senior Living Association, AARP, Senior First, Harbor Chase, LIFE at UCF, Orlando Health, TravelAbility, Experience Kissimmee, Limitless Solutions, CareerSource, among others.

Dr. Zhong earned her Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her M.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from UCF. Before returning to UCF, she held academic positions at California State University, Long Beach, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.