Michelle Alcorn, Ph.D.

Bio

Dr. Michelle Alcorn is an Assistant Professor in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management in the College of Human Sciences. Her hometown is Enid, Oklahoma. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Oklahoma State University in Hotel and Restaurant Administration and her Ph.D. in Hospitality Management from Kansas State University. Dr. Alcorn has teaching, research, and management experience in the food service industry. She teaches courses related food and beverage operations. She is dedicated to mentoring and teaching students to prepare them for their future careers. She focuses on providing students with valuable learning opportunities and integrates research into the classroom. Her research interests cover the areas of employee behavior, employee wellness, and environmental sustainability. She strives to conduct research that positively impacts the industry and community.

Research Focus

The research focus of Dr. Alcorn includes topics such as employee behavior, employee wellness, and environmental sustainability within the food service industry. Her focus has included various populations within the food service industry such as child nutrition employees, restaurant employees, and institutional employees. Her goal is to incorporate additional populations such as employees in food production, processing, and distribution. She is also interested in student learning and higher education systems.

Research Interests or Areas of Expertise

Research Interests:
Employee Behavior
Employee Wellness
Environmental Sustainability
Student Learning

Areas of Expertise:
Restaurant Operations
Environmental Sustainability

Selected Publications

Vaterlaus-Patten, E., Alcorn, M., Watkins, T., Cole, K., Paez, P. (2017). Observed food safety practices in the summer food service program. Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, 41(1), 1-12.

Alcorn, M., & Curtis, C. (2016). Restaurant employee attitude and behavior towards sustainability practices. Journal of Foodservice Management & Education, 10(1), 16-23.