Before joining Cal Poly Pomona, Dr. Yang taught at University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee as an Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator. Dr. Yang was born and raised in Beijing, China. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Tourism Management from Fudan University, China. After graduating from college, Dr. Yang came to the United States and obtained a Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Inspired by her mother who is a professor in China, Dr. Yang discovered her passion for research and teaching during the years in school. She, therefore, decided to pursue a doctoral degree in Hospitality Management at the Pennsylvania State University with a Minor degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management.