Dr. Kelly Bricker

Professor and Dept. Chair, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, University of Utah

Chair, Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference USA

Dr. Bricker is the Department Chair at the University of Utah in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. She also works as a Senior Research Scientist – Recreation with HDR|DTA part-time. She completed her Ph.D. research with the Pennsylvania State University, where she specialized in sustainable tourism and natural resource management. She has special research and teaching interest in ecotourism, sense of place, natural resource management, and the environmental and social impacts of tourism.

Kelly has conducted research on heritage tourism, social impacts of tourism, and natural resource-related tourism environments. With her husband Nathan, she developed an ecotourism operation called Rivers Fiji. She serves as the Chair of The International Ecotourism Society and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Biography

Education

  • PhD, Parks, Recreation, Tourism / Geography, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA

  • MS, Parks, Recreation, Tourism / Communications, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

  • BS 1981, Parks, Recreation, Tourism / Zoology, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

Honors & Awards

  • A scholarship was created in my name to honor students of sustainable tourism and support them to the annual Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism International Conference. The International Ecotourism Society, 04/15/2015

  • Selected as one of 18 Global Judges for the “Tourism for Tomorrow” Awards, sponsored by the World Travel & Tourism Council . World Travel and Tourism Council, 01/2014

  • Emerging Professional - Graduate Degree Award Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Alumni Society, The Pennsylvania State University. (Award) . The Pennslyvania State University , 01/2006

  • Emerging Professional Graduate Degree Award, College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society, The Pennsylvania State University. (Award) . The Pennsylvania State University, 01/2006

  • Teacher of the Year for the Division of Forestry, West Virginia University . West Virginia University, Division of Forestry, 05/2004

Biography

Dr. Bricker is a Professor and Interim Chair at the University of Utah in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. She also works as a Senior Research Scientist – in Recreation with HDR|DTA. Dr. Bricker completed her Ph.D. research with the Pennsylvania State University, where she specialized in sustainable tourism and natural resource management. She has special research and teaching interest in ecotourism, sense of place, natural resource management, and the environmental and social impacts of tourism. Kelly has conducted research on heritage tourism, social impacts of tourism, and natural resource-related tourism environments. She has presented papers on issues in ecotourism, sense of place, natural resource management, and incentive travel programs. She has published articles on sense of place, ecotourism certification and policy, and health and sustainable tourism relative to communities. With her husband Nathan, she developed an ecotourism operation called Rivers Fiji. She serves as the Chair

Affiliations

  • The International Ecotourism Society (IEC), Board Member, 07/2009 - present

  • The International Ecotourism Society-University Consortium Certificate in Sustainable Tourism (UCC), Member, 07/2007 - present

  • The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Board Member, 07/2007 - present

  • Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA), Member, 07/1999 - present

  • National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Member, 07/1980 - present

Languages

  • English, fluent.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Fiji. Longitudinal research on tourism and quality of life in rural communities.

  • Kenya. Interested in sustainable tourism and ecotourism issues.