More about Rayven…

Rayven Crisafulli, CMP, CMP-HC is a PhD student, Graduate Teaching Assistant, and Event Management Instructor in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at the University of Florida. Rayven graduated summa cum laude from UF with her bachelors in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, with a specialization in Event Management in 2013. She then began her career as an event planner within UF’s Department of Continuing Medical Education. During her time there, she planned and executed the logistics of over 80 medical education events held throughout the US and abroad. She also obtained her CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) Certification and her CMP-HC (Healthcare Meeting Professional) Certification. In 2019, while still working at UF, she opened her own wedding planning business where she helped design, plan, and manage the weddings of couples in the Gainesville area.

After spending 7 years as a full-time event planner, Rayven returned to her alma mater to pursue a career in teaching and research. With the rise of virtual and hybrid events brought about by COVID-19, virtual event experience and integration with AI is at the forefront of her research agenda. Her other research interests include the impact of service quality on the event experience, and entrepreneurship in the events industry.

Working with her academic advisor, Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu, Rayven is currently studying COVID-19’s impact on community perceptions of hosting mega-events in Florida. She is also studying the Impact of AI and technology on event experience.

Rayven can be contacted via email at Rayven.g@ufl.edu .