Dr. Uysal, Ph.D., is a Provost Professor and Carney Family Endowed Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He served as department chair from August 2016 to August 2023. Currently, Dr. Uysal is serving as the president of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism and a fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences. Dr. Uysal has authored and co-authored numerous scholarly articles, five monographs, and sixteen books. He is widely recognized for his contributions, receiving over thirty awards for research, international education, teaching excellence, and lifetime achievements. From 2021 to 2024, Dr. Uysal was listed among the top 1% of the world's most highly cited researchers by Clarivate Analytics. He has also received the Research.com Business and Management Leader Award for three consecutive years.

Robertico Croes, a leading scholar in socially sustainable tourism at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, has spent over twenty years exploring tourism’s role in economic growth, poverty alleviation, and human development. His research has significantly impacted marginalized communities and earned global recognition, including an invitation to address the UN General Assembly on tourism and sustainability. Recently, he secured $4.5 million in funding for travel health and infectious disease control, leading to Rosen College’s first intellectual property—a health-focused travel app. With over 150 articles, seven books, and thirty industry reports, his work has shaped tourism policies and mentored emerging scholars. His most recent book is A Journey to Happiness. Dr. Croes is recognized among the top 2% of cited authors globally and has received multiple accolades, including the UCF Luminary Award and the Thea Sinclair Award.