Research Team Members
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Dr. Gregory Ibendahl is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University. Dr. Ibendahl has worked in the area of farm financial structure and performance and farm enterprise analysis for farm management associations. He has extensive experience in extensions including farm financial crisis, farm planning tool, risk management. |
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Dr. Junehee Kwon is a professor and the Department Head for Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). Dr. Kwon researched various food and beverage management topics, including food safety, food allergy, sustainability, food security, and consumer behaviors. Dr. Kwon and her team have worked on a variety of community engagement projects including the current project, which was initiated to improve communication during B2C custom beef transactions. Her previously funded projects include developing food safety training for foodservice staff, volunteers at faith-based organizations, and consumers; developing a food allergy curriculum for hospitality management and dietetics programs; and evaluating school foodservice reimbursement procedures. |
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Dr. Travis O’Quinn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Science and Industry in the College of Agriculture at the Kansas State University. Dr. O’Quinn’s research interests center on beef palatability and the factors affecting the traits of tenderness, juiciness and flavor. He has conducted research involving more than 13,000 beef consumers from across the country. He oversees the state 4-H and FFA meat judging programs and works to help increase student involvement in the meat industry through the growth of these programs. |
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Dr. Yue Teng Vaughan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hospitality in the College of Health and Human Sciences at the Kansas State University. Dr. Vaughan’s research interests focus on sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in the hospitality industry. She has extensive experience in hospitality financial management. She and her department developed Agritourism Certificate program at Kansas State University which will be launched in Fall 2025. |