Xinyi Qian, Ph.D. is the director of the University of Minnesota Tourism Center. Dr. Qian oversees the Center's strategic directions, manages the Center's operation, actively engages the advisory committee, builds and maintains relationships with strategic partners and industry sectors, and oversees the Center's communications work. Dr. Qian also conducts applied research on a variety of tourism-related topics, including visitor behavior and economic impact studies in collaboration with Extension’s Senior Economic Impact Analyst.