Educational Background

2003-2007 Ph.D., Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA

2001-2003 MS, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA
1991-1995 BA, Department of Tourism, Nan Kai University, Tianjin, China


Working Experience

2004-2006 Research Assistant, Diversity Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA

2003-2006 Teaching Assistant, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA
2001-2003 Research Assistant, National Laboratory for Tourism and eCommerce, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, IL, USA
1995-2000 Corporate Travel Supervisor/Travel Counsellor, China International Travel Service (CITS), Head Office

Research Interests

Social control function of leisure 

Leisure constraints and negotiation
Social cultural aspects of international tourism
Communications strategies in tourism crisis


Research projects 

Park use and physical activity participation among Chicago Metropolitan Area residents funded by National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Kraft Foundation
Recreational patterns and the use of green spaces among Latino(a) populations in Chicago Metropolitan Area funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Life Happiness and Personal Health Study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Community recreation needs and constraints funded by the Pleasant Dale Park District, IL
Impacts of “Chicago Neighbourhood Tour” on the ethnic communities in Chicago funded by Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
Travel information search patterns and behaviours of visitors to Chicago metropolitan area funded by Chicago area Convention and Visitors Bureaus 
Impacts of TICs on users’ travel and consumption behaviour
Travel information search behaviour of tourists to Northern Indiana 2001
Leisure constraints and negotiation strategies of ethnic minorities
Transnationalism and interpretive tourist experience
 
Publications & Project Reports

Li, M. Z. (forthcoming, 2009). Leisure and Tourism in the Changing China. World Leisure Journal. 
Stodolska, M., Li., M. Z., & Shinew, K. J. (under review). Recreation participation patterns and styles among Latino visitors to three urban outdoor recreation environments.  Leisure Sciences.
Li, M. Z., & Stodolska, M. (2007). Working for a dream and living for the future: Leisure constraints and negotiation strategies. Leisure/Loisir, 37, 105-132.
Yi-Kook, J., & Li, M. Z. (2007). Sport and recreation in East Asia. In Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Popular Cultures. Westport, CT: The Greenwood Publishing Group. Awarded the 2008 Ray & Pat Browne Award for Best Rreference/Primary Sources Collection.
Li, M. Z., & Stodolska, M. (2006). Transnationalism, leisure, and Chinese graduate students in the United States. Leisure Sciences, 28, 39-55. 
Li, M. Z., Stodolska, M., Shinew, K. J., & Santos, C. A. (2005). The effect of sport facilities and trail systems on the use of green spaces for physical activity among Latino(a) Americans. Prepared for: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Active Living Research Program), Fox Valley Park District, and City of Elgin Parks & Recreation Department, IL.
Li, M. Z., Stodolska, M., Shinew, K. J., & Santos, C. A. (2005). Increasing intercultural understanding between park managers and African American and Latino users of urban parks. Part 1. User survey. Prepared for: National Recreation and Park Association and Kraft Foundation.
Payne, L. L., Li, M. Z., & Listenberger, M. (2004). Community recreation needs assessment for the Pleasant Dale Park District. Prepared for: Pleasant Dale Park District.  
Fesenmaire, D. R., Gretzel, U., Rhoads, M. E., & Li, M. Z. (2002). Understanding visitors to Northern Indiana: The 2001 visitor survey. Prepared for: Tourism Industry, Department of Commerce.

Conference Presentations

Stodolska, M., Li., M. Z., & Shinew, K. J. (September, 2007). Outdoor recreation and the active living style. Paper presented at the 2007 NRPA Leisure Research Symposium in Indianapolis, IN.
Li., M. Z. (October, 2006). Understanding travel experiences in the transnational space. Paper presented at the 2006 World Leisure Conference in Hangzhou, China.  
Li, M., Z., & Stodolska, M. (October, 2005). Leisure constraints and negotiation strategies among Chinese international students. Paper presented at the 2005 NRPA Leisure Research Symposium in San Antonio, TX.
Belhassen, Y., Buzinde, C., Li, M. Z., Mowatt, R., Mulvaney, M., Reible, H., & Shinew, K. (June, 2005). What are aren’t studying in leisure: A look ‘outside’ our field. Paper presented at the 11th Canadian Congress on Leisure Research in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. 
Li, M. Z., & Stodolska, M. (October, 2004). Leisure and the construction of transnational spaces: The case of Chinese international students. Paper presented at the 2004 NRPA Leisure Research Symposium in Reno, NV. 
Li, M., Z., Hwang, Y., & Fesenmaier, D. R. (June, 2002). The influence of information provided by Tourist Information Centers on travel behavior. Paper presented at the 33rd TTRA Annual Conference in Arlington, VA.