Elizabeth Whalen has held management positions in both the restaurant and hotel industries. She has also served as the executive director of the AH&LA Information Center, which is housed at the Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston. She is currently a lecturer, teaching lodging management courses, service management courses, and marketing courses. Elizabeth holds a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.S. in Hospitality Management from the University of Houston, and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Houston. Her research interests include decision-making processes, consumption communities, and online communication.