I am an applied social scientist with training in the human dimensions of natural resources management. My scholarship integrates multiple disciplines to examine how people interact with nature. I am particularly interested in the factors that shape environmental attitudes and human behavior, values that outdoor recreationists ascribe to ecosystem services, and the spatial dynamics of social-ecological systems. My research provides theoretical and practical implications for enhancing experiences that sustain and fulfill human life, and benefiting biodiversity conservation in parks and protected areas.
Currently, I am a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University studying with Dr. Gerard Kyle. I am also an Associated Student in the Applied Biodiversity Sciences Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Program, which is supported by the National Science Foundation. My primary interests include:
- Environmental attitudes and human behavior
- Concepts of "place" and "value"
- Outdoor recreation carrying capacity
- Sustainable tourism management