Forest Ma

Forest Ma is an assistant professor in the Tourism and Hospitality program at the University of Southern Maine. She has previously served as an instructor at the University of South Carolina and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Before joining academia, she held several managerial positions in international hotels and non-profit/private event organizations. Bringing her industry experience, she has taught a wide range of hospitality management courses, including restaurant management, beverage operations, human resource management, event planning, and more. She also enjoys guiding students to engage and serve underprivileged communities through study abroad courses.

Her research focuses on food and beverage operations, looking at practical approaches to create memorable experiences for both employees and customers. She has published in top-tier hospitality and tourism journals, including International Journal of Hospitality Management, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, and International Journal of Tourism Research.