She received a B.S. degree in tourism and hotel management from Bilkent University, a M.S. degree in hotel administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Ph.D. degree in hospitality financial management from the Pennsylvania State University. She worked in the hotel industry as part of the Hilton and Marriot teams. She is the recipient of 2012 President's Award for Excellent Performance and Achievement in Teaching, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2013 School of Hotel & Tourism Management Award for Research Excellence and 2015 School of Hotel & Tourism Management Award for Service Excellence.