With international experience spanning nearly ten years in the hospitality and tourism industry, particularly within the leisure and business events sector, Dr. Liu integrates her real-world perspectives to enhance the academic environment and equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the subjects. Her primary professional background includes roles with the Akron Racers, a women's pro softball team, where she contributed to event sales and promotions. Additionally, she worked as a project manager for state-owned corporations, orchestrating executive board and annual corporation conferences, as well as collaborating with local communities to organize leisure events. 

She is the recipient of a Presidential Fellowship from 2018 to 2020, the Scholastic Excellence Award in 2018, and the Graduates Dean's Award (one for each semester) in 2018 from Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston. She has served as a committee member for Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity at MTSU and an editorial board member for the Journal of Convention and Event Tourism. Her research interests encompass event experiences, family relationship-related outcomes in hospitality/tourism/events, and eventful destinations.

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Liu, Y.,& Draper, J. (2024). Can Glamping be a vacation to help Dink couples relax and Maintain close relationships? Tourism Review International, 28(2), 85-96. https://doi.org/10.3727/194344224X17065495994350

Liu, Y. (2023). The secret of attending music concerts in post-pandemic: A thought of enhancing well-being. Online Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 8(5), 1-2. https://irispublishers.com/ojcam/pdf/OJCAM.MS.ID.000699.pdf   

Liu, Y., Draper, J., Madera, J.M. and Taylor, D.C. (2023). Parents' attending status and alcohol consumption on family cohesion and satisfaction at art festivals. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 14(4), 423-440. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEFM-11-2022-0089

Liu, Y., & Draper, J. (2022). The influence of attending festivals with children on family quality of life, subjective well-being, and event experience. Event Management, 26, 25-40. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599521X16192004803593

Liu, Y., Draper, J., & Dawson, M. (2022). The relationship between work experience and career expectations: career decision-making self-efficacy as mediator. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 35(3), 213-224. https://doi.org/10.1080/10963758.2022.2034118

Draper, J., Liu, Y., & Young, L. (2021). Trends of research methods, data collection, and data analysis in Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions Journals. Journal of Convention & Event Tourism, 22(3), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15470148.2021.1906373

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