Since its launch in 1994, the Mizzou Alumni Association (MAA) has provided start-up funds of about $700,000 to more than 300 faculty members for the initiation of research or professional development projects. The MAA supports the development of faculty through its Dr. Richard Wallace Faculty Incentive Grants program.

Pei Liu, an assistant professor of hospitality management, was a 2021 recipient of one of the Dr. Richard Wallace Faculty Incentive Grants. Liu has been engaged in a variety of applied research projects funded by USDA ranging from consumer consumption behaviors (i.e., recognizing clients’ needs and wants, evaluating current practices in commercial restaurants and institutional facilities to promote nutrition and healthy eating habits) to employees’ food safety practices in ethnic restaurants. Her specialties include: consumer behaviors in foodservice operations, food safety training in foodservice operations and healthy food marketing.