“The Important thing is to Never Stop Questioning”
CURRENT PROJECTS
EVALUATION OF COMMUNITY BASED STEM PROGRAMS - Quasi-experimental design using pre-post surveys and the Draw a Scientist Test to explore the impact of a community based STEM program on children’s STEM curiosity, efficacy, and identity.
DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECH CENTER - Narrative design and development of a children’s interactive science and tech center in the state of Utah.
JURASSIC JUNGLE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE DESIGN - Experience design and project management of an immersive, dinosaur themed, adventure playground. Journey to a prehistoric playground to help dinosaurs survive everyday perils and extinction threats.
FOSTERING CHARACTER IN CHILDREN’S MUSEUMS - Planning grant exploring how to spark curiosity, build confidence, and foster compassion in children’s museums using the Seven Strategies for Character Development.
RETIRED PROJECTS
DESIGN THINKING PROGRAMS WITH WOMEN OF LIVED EXPERIENCE - A project using design thinking and visual-participatory methods to develop leisure and faith-based programs and services with women of lived experience with homelessness.
CREATIVITY IN RECREATION & TOURISM EDUCATION — Exploring the important role of creativity in higher education and how we can cultivate creativity in students and teachers.
LEISURE, STRESS, & COPING DURING A PANDEMIC - As the world shut down and words like social distance became common place, the contribution of leisure to physical, social, mental, economic and spiritual health was apparent. This body of work explores the role of leisure in individual and industry-level coping with covid-related stressors.
STUDY ABROAD PROCESSES & OUTCOMES — A quantitative investigation of the activities and experiences that promote transformative learning during study abroad.
REPATRIATION MANAGEMENT — A case study exploring the reintegration experiences of returned missionaries in the South Eastern United States.
INTERNATIONALIZATION & INDIGENIZATION — Developing an internationalization strategy that complements existing indigenization strategies at a Canadian university.
REFLEXIVITY IN THE ERA OF THE UNCONSCIOUS ACTOR — A group of leisure scholars use implicit and explicit measures to reflect on their bias and explore how their implicit and explicit biases may impact their research and teaching.
SOCIAL & ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES OF LIFESTYLE SPORTS — In partnership with USA Climbing, a study of the growth, opportunities, and challenges of a burgeoning lifestyle sport, its governing body, and members.
VISITOR MANAGEMENT/USAGE & CARRYING CAPACITY ESTIMATION/OVERTOURISM — Exploring how culture, urbanization, and overtourism impact perceptions of crowding, visitor experience, and social carrying capacity.