Dr. Xiao (Lilac) Li
Areas of Expertise
- Data Analytics
- Management
- Organizational Behavior
- Statistics
Bio
Dr. Li is the recipient of numerous awards and honors to include the 2023 ACHE Regent’s Award, the 2022 National Institutes of Health - All of Us Research Scholar Program Scholarship, the 2020 and 2022 National 1st Place Medical Group Management Association Leaders Scholarship, and the 2021 Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship-Excellence Award of the National Society of Leadership and Success. She has been an Assistant Professor of Management for the Department of Management at the University of Nebraska at Kearney since August 2025.
She has written peer-reviewed publications for many journals to include The Journal of Global Health, The Journal of Rural Health, and Health Care Management Review. She has written three books on leadership. Dr. Li has also participated in several conference podium presentations and conference poster presentations.
Education
Ph.D., Healthcare Management & Policy, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
MHA/MBA, Healthcare Administration/Business Administration, University of Houston Clear Lake
MSc, Hospitality Management, University of Houston
How would you describe your teaching style?
My teaching style is experiential, inquiry-driven, and career-focused. I bring real-world examples and case studies into the classroom to connect theory with practice, encouraging students to analyze complex practical challenges from multiple perspectives. I view my role as a catalyst who equips students not only with knowledge but also with practical tools, professional mindset, and confidence to succeed in their future careers as healthcare leaders.
What do students need to know to be successful in your classroom?
I expect students in my classroom to come prepared, engage actively in discussions, and show respect for diverse perspectives while taking responsibility for their own learning. Most importantly, I expect students to cultivate a desire to align knowledge with practice by critically connecting concepts to real-world situations and their professional goals.
