Dr. Kang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Retailing and Tourism Management (RTM) at the University of Kentucky. Prior to her academic career, Dr. Kang gained several years of experience in the hospitality industry, working at the Hilton and Aramark.

Dr. Kang’s primary research interest encompasses branding and service experience management within the hospitality industry. Her research work has been published in top-tier hospitality journals, including International Journal of Hospitality Management and Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research. In an era of challenges within the hospitality field, her goal is to bridge the gap between academic findings and industry practices, making valuable theoretical and practical contributions.

Research Interests

• Branding
  • Internal brand management
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) branding
  • Sustainability branding
• Service Experience Management
  • Service encounter 
  • Service employee well-being 

Certifications/Training

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Hilton Hotel
• Diversity & Inclusion, Hilton Hotel
• Preventing Human Trafficking: Recognizing the Signs, Hilton Hotel
• Inclusive & Respectful Workplace Acknowledgement, Hilton Hotel
• Your Role in Workplace Diversity, Skillsoft