Jason Bocarro
Owens-Shelton Distinguished Professor of Leadership with a Global Perspective, James Buzzard Leadership Development Program Director
Biltmore Hall (Robertson Wing) 3028F
Bio
Jason Bocarro is the Owens-Shelton Distinguished Professor of Leadership with a Global Perspective and the James Buzzard Leadership Program Director in the College of Natural Resources. He is also a University Faculty Scholar, an Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor, awarded in recognition of distinguished service in support of undergraduate teaching and was inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement. He was awarded the 2023 UNC Board of Govenor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Bocarro’s research focuses on the intersection of health and inactivity, specifically examining the relationship between the built environment, programs, public spaces and human health. Globally, Bocarro has spent the last 10 years leading multinational research teams examining the impact of Mega Sporting Events can be leveraged to positively impact communities and the co-author of the book Legacies of Mega Events: Fact or Fairy Tales. ”
Education
- Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas. Ph.D.
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. M.A.
- University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England. B.S.
Current Research Interests
- Examining mental health issues and strategies among student athletes (see ACC or NCAA)
- Youth development, sport, and physical activity and health (see our Aspen Institute Project)
- Outdoor environments and their influence on children’s health (see the results from our IPARK study)
- Equity issues within sport and recreation environments (see our Health Matters project)
- The intersection of clinical community health (see our Park Rx project)
- Management and policies related to Community Recreation, Parks and Sport (see our Shared Use projects)
- The legacy and role of Mega Sporting Events in promoting healthy communities (See Carnival and EventRights projects)
- Relationship development between youth and adults in community-based youth programs
Recent Courses Taught
- PRT 152 Introduction to Parks, Recreation and Tourism
- PRT 359 Leadership and Supervision in Recreation
- PRT 359 (In London) Organizational Leadership in PRT
- PRT 359 (in Munich/Innsbruck) Organizational Leadership in PRT
- PRT 475 Recreation and Park Internship
- PRT 506 Organizational Behavior and Leadership in SPTR
Selected Projects/Grant Funding
Hardison-Moody, A (PI), Bocarro, J. B., Casper, J.M., Hipp, J. A., (2021-2022). Health Matters: Building Resilient Inclusive Communities (BRIC) – NC Division of Public Health $83,000.
Hardison-Moody, A (PI), Bocarro, J. B., & Hipp, J. A., (2019-2020). Health Matters: Improving Physical Activities among African-American and Low-Income Residents of Edgecombe County – Centers for Disease Control/NC Division of Public Health $79,459.
Brittain, I., McGillivray, D., Bocarro, J. N., Königstorfer, J., Lundberg, E., Misener, L., Funahashi, H., & Travlos, A. (2019-2023). EventRights: Addressing inequality, enhancing diversity and facilitating greater dialogue in the hosting of sporting mega events. – European Commission. €791,000.
Bocarro, J. N., Hipp, J. A., Kanters, M. A., & Floyd, M. F. (2016-2018). Thinking Outside the Pillbox: Prescribing Parks for Community Health – Centers for Disease Control/NC Division of Public Health. $187,761.
Hardison-Moody, A. (PI), Haynes-Maslow, L., Bocarro, J. N., Bloom, D., Hipp. J. A. Edwards, M. B., Floyd, M. F., Dunn, C., Bowen, S., Schulman, M. (2016-2018). Building Community Capacity to Prevent Obesity: Extension and Engagement in Four North Carolina Counties – Centers for Disease Control. $1,582,325.
Kanters, M. A., Casper, J., Edwards, M.B., & Bocarro, J. N. (2017-18). Healthy Sport Index – Aspen Institute. $125,680.
Brittain, I., Kipnes, E., Bocarro, J. N., Königstorfer, J., Swart, K. Meloneto, F. (2014-2017). CARNiVAL: An examination of the impact of cultural and sporting mega-events – European Commission. €852,000.
Bocarro, J. N., Floyd, M.F., & Fearn, M. (2015-17). National Park Service Relevance, Diversity and Inclusion Inventory – National Park Service. $87,000.
Edwards, M. B., Bocarro, J. N., Floyd, M.F., & Moore, R. (2014-15). Public Park and Trail Support of Public Health Goals – National Park Service. $34,000.
Kanters, M., Bocarro, J. N., & Floyd, M.F. (2012-14). Community Transformation Project: Evaluation of Joint Use – Centers for Disease Control/NC Division of Public Health. $235,108
Bocarro, J. N., Kanters, M., Mahar, M., McKenzie, T. (2012). USA Hockey Physical Activity and the ADM Evaluation Study Proposal – USA Hockey. $37,960.
Bocarro, J. N., Kanters, M., Seamons, P., Aitken, L., & Casper, J. (Co-PI with Kanters). (2011-2012). Middle School Sport Policies and Facilities Research Translation Grant (2011-2012) – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. $26,824.
Bocarro, J. N., Kanters, M., Trogdon, J., MacKenzie, T., & Casper, J. (Co-PI with Kanters). (2010-2011). Middle School Sport Facilities: Policies, Physical Activity, and Cost Effectiveness. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, $100,000.
Kanters, M., Bocarro, J.N., Siderelis, C., Armstrong, P. (2010). NRPA Fees and Charges Survey Project. National Recreation and Parks Association. $18, 829.
Bocarro, J. N., Kanters, M., Mahar, M., MacKenzie, T., & Casper, J. (Co-PI with Kanters). (2008-2010). School Intramural Sports and Physical Activity: A Middle School Policy Intervention. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, $199,495.
Selected Peer Reviewed Publications (from over 80 publications)
Bocarro, J.N., Bush, K.A., Casper, J.M., Steptoe, A., Blake, V., DuPree, S., & Kanters, M.A. (2023). An examination of a health and wellness intervention on STEM college students during COVID-19. Recreation Sports Journal, 47(1), 35-48.
Larson, L. R., Zhang, Z., Oh, J. I., Beam, W., Ogletree, S. S., Bocarro, J. N., Lee, K. J., Casper, J., Stevenson, K. T., Hipp, J. A., Mullenbach, L. E., Carusona, M., & Wells, M. (2021). Urban park use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Are socially vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted? Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3 (103).
Acker, D., & Bocarro, J. N. (2021). Preparing students as leaders with a global mindset: A phenomenological case study. Global Education Review, 8 (4), 7-23.
Carlton, T., McKenzie, T. L., Bocarro, J. N., Edwards, M., Casper, J., Suau, L., & Kanters, M. A. (2021). Objective assessment of physical activity and associated contexts during high school sport practices, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3 (181).
Kondo, M.C., Oyekanmi, K. O., Gibson, A., South, E.C., Bocarro, J. N., Hipp, J. A. (2020). Nature Prescriptions for Health: A Systematic Review of Evidence and Research Opportunities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17 (12), 4213
Koenigstorfer, J., Bocarro, J.N., Byers, T., Edwards, M.B., & Jones, G.J., Preuss, H. (2019). Mapping Research on Event-Attributed Installations, Consequences, and Stakeholder Evaluations Considered in Empirical Studies on the Legacy of Mega Sporting Events. Leisure Studies, 38 (6), 729-745.
Jones, G.J., Edwards, M.B., Bocarro, J.N., Bunds, K.S., & Smith, J. W. (2018). Leveraging community sport organizations to promote community capacity: Strategic outcomes, challenges, and theoretical considerations. Sport Management Review, 21, 279-292.
Hardison-Moody, A., Edwards, M. B., Bocarro, J.N., Stein, A., Kanters, M. A., Sherman, D., Rhew, L.K., Stallings, W.M., & Bowen, S.K. (2017). Survey of shared use among North Carolina faith communities. Preventing Chronic Disease, 14, E11.
Carlton, T., Kanters, M. A., Bocarro, J.N., Floyd, M.F., Edwards, M.B., & Suau, L.J. (2017). Examining the relationship of shared use programming and leisure time. Preventive Medicine, 95, S10-S16.
Jones, G. J., Edwards, M. B., Bocarro, J. N., Smith, J. W., Bunds, K. S. (2017). Collaborative advantages: The role of inter-organizational partnerships for youth sport non-profit organizations. Journal of Sport Management, 31, 148-160.
Bocarro, J. N., Floyd, M. F., Edwards, M.B., Schultz, C., Smith, W., Baran, P., Moore, R., Cosco, N., & Suau, L.J. (2015). Gender stratified models of social and environmental correlates of park-based physical activity among children and adolescents. Preventing Chronic Disease, 12, E97.
Bocarro, J.N., Kanters, M. A., Edwards, M. B., Casper, J. M., McKenzie, T. L. (2014). Prioritizing school sponsored sport based on observed physical activity. American Journal of Health Promotion, 28(3), S65-S71.
Bocarro, J. N., Kanters, M., Cerin, E., Floyd, M. F., Casper, J., Suau, L.J., & McKenzie, T. (2012). School sport policy and school-based physical activity environments and their association with observed physical activity in middle school children. Health & Place, 18, 31-38.
Floyd, M. F., Bocarro, J. N., Smith, W., Baran, P., Moore, R., Cosco, N., Edwards, M.B., Suau, L.J., & Fang, K.S. (2011). An examination of individual, social, and environmental correlates of children’s park-based physical activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 41(3), 258-265.
Bocarro, J. N., Casper, J., Henderson, K., Floyd, M. F., Moore, R., Kanters, M. A., Laven, K., & Edwards, M. B. (2009). Physical activity promotion in North Carolina: Perceptions of public park and recreation directors. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 27(1), 1-16.
Floyd, M. F., Bocarro, J. N., & Thompson, T. (2008). Research on race and ethnicity in Leisure Studies: A review of five major journals. Journal of Leisure Research, 40(1), 1-22.
Books and Selected Book Chapters
Brittain, I., Bocarro, J. N., Byers, T., & Swart, K. (2018). Legacies of Mega Events: Fact or Fairy Tales. Routledge: London.
Bocarro, J. N., & Edwards, M.B. (2016). Sport participation. In T. Byers (Ed.), Contemporary Issues in Sport: An Introduction. Sage Publications: London.
Bocarro, J. N., & Edwards, M.B. (2016). Leisure, Health and Physical Activity. In G. Walker, M. Stodolska, & D. Scott (Eds.), Leisure Matters: The State and Future of Leisure Studies. Venture Publishing Inc., State College, PA.
Selected Presentations
Schultz, C., Bocarro, J. N., Hipp, J. A. & Floyd, M. F. (2018). Development and Evaluation of a Park Rx Park Audit Tool and Inventory. Paper presented at the International Society of Physical Activity & Health Congress, London, England.
Bocarro, J.N., Hardison-Moody, A., Kuhlberg, J., & Haynes-Maslow, L. (2018). Promoting Physical Activity through Shared Agreements. Paper presented at the 2018 National Health Outreach Conference, Bloomington, MN
Bocarro, J.N., Byers, T., Edwards, M.B., Koenigstorfer, J., & Swart, K. (2015). The legacy of mega sport events: A systematic review and
recommendations. Paper presented at the European Association for Sport Management, Dublin, Ireland.
Bocarro, J.N., Barcelona, R.J., Henderson, K.A., & McCord, R. (2014). A systematic review of the management literature. Paper presented at the 2014 NRPA Leisure Research Symposium. Charlotte, NC.
Bocarro, J.N., Kanters, M. A., Edwards, M. B., & Casper, J. M. (2013). Prioritizing school sponsored sport based on observed physical activity. Paper presented at the Active Living Research 2013 Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.
Awards
Outstanding Engagement Award (2021) – inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement
Outstanding Global Engagement Award finalist (2020) – recognizes outstanding accomplishment in globally engaged teaching, student support, and research
NC State Provost Faculty Fellow (2019)
The Academy of Leisure Sciences Fellow (2019) – Inducted into the Academy of Leisure Sciences
NC State Faculty Scholar, 2015-2019
Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award, 2014/15
International Visiting Fellowship Award, 2014 – Coventry University, UK
NC State Outstanding Teaching Award, 2009/10 – Inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Teachers
College of Natural Resources Outstanding Teacher, 2009/10
UNH Outreach Scholar, 2004/05 – Awarded to faculty members whose research agenda involves a broader audience
SHHS Outstanding New Investigator Award, 2004 – Awarded to an untenured faculty member who has demonstrated extraordinary progress in establishing a productive line of research
Campus Compact for New Hampshire Presidents’ Good Steward Award, 2004 – Awarded to a faculty member in the state who helps strengthen and improve local communities through their work
Roger Ritvo Award, 2003 – Awarded to a faculty member and undergraduate student who collaborate successfully in research
Faculty Instructional Technology Summer Institute Teaching Award, 2003 – Awarded to a faculty member interested in utilizing technology to enhance their teaching
Society of Park and Recreation Educators New Faculty Leadership Award, 2001 – Awarded in recognition of demonstrated leadership activity and leadership potential to the field
Elda K. Bradberry Scholarship, 2001 ($2000)
Texas A&M Department Graduate Scholarship, 2000 ($1000)
Gamma Sigma Delta Member, 1998 – awarded on basis of scholarship/involvement in service.
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Scholarship, 1998
Canadian AUAA All Star Athlete, 1993
Outside Interests
Running, soccer (both watching and playing), hiking and extended backpacking trips, reading, traveling.
Publications
- An Exploratory Study of a Health and Wellness Intervention on STEM College Students During COVID-19 , RECREATIONAL SPORTS JOURNAL (2023)
- Editorial: Foregrounding a rights-based agenda for sport events , FRONTIERS IN SPORTS AND ACTIVE LIVING (2023)
- Perceived Constraints to Pickleball Participation Among Black Older Adults , Journal of Aging and Physical Activity (2023)
- Physical Activity Associated with Older Adult Pickleball Participation: A Pilot Study , RECREATIONAL SPORTS JOURNAL (2023)
- Thinking Outside the Pillbox - Sport and Health , (2023)
- Applying Systems Thinking Approaches to Address Preventive Health Factors through Public Parks and Recreation Agencies , JOURNAL OF PARK AND RECREATION ADMINISTRATION (2022)
- Examination of Ecological Systems Contexts Within a Latino-Based Community Sport Youth Development Initiative , Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (2022)
- Promoting Recreational Interests of Black Undergraduate Students Attending Historically White Institutions , RECREATIONAL SPORTS JOURNAL (2022)
- The Contribution of Sport in the Rehabilitation Process of Disabled Military Veterans: A Case Study of the 2016 Invictus Games , JOURNAL OF GLOBAL SPORT MANAGEMENT (2022)
- Youth Sport Participation by Metropolitan Status: 2018-2019 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) , RESEARCH QUARTERLY FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT (2022)
Grants
The NCAA, along with the ACC, has recognized the growing issue of mental health among student-athletes. This has been exacerbated by the recent Covid pandemic, social and racial issues and increased demands on student athletes’ time. Furthermore, although there is a strong relationship between overuse of technology and mental health challenges, data has shown that athletes’ social media use has increased dramatically. While some of the social media use has been prompted by the commercial opportunities provided by the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation that was passed, there is some recent studies highlighting the overall negative effect of social media platforms on athlete mental health and well-being. Despite the increase in mental health issues, there is a concern that institutional resources devoted to supporting the clinical and psychological needs of student-athletes is lacking. This issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected university athletic departments’ finances while simultaneously increasing the stress on student-athletes. Although a growing body of research has explored factors behind student-athlete mental health during this pandemic, little research has explored the scope and best practices of mental health services that may be effective in supporting student-athletes. This study will seek to conduct focus groups with 20-25 student athletes across the ACC Schools to provide both context of current issues facing student-athletes and explore their insights of current initiatives and resources designed to provide the best mental health support during a challenging period.
To increase physical activity among African Americans and low-income residents in Edgecombe County, NC State and Edgecombe County Cooperative Extension will 1) increase the number and promotion of shared use policies in community organizations, 2) connect and promote vital physical activity resources through wayfinding and signage, 3) improve connectivity between places people live, learn, work, play and pray through walking and recreation space audits, 4) support and promote walking and biking to and during school, and 5) partner with Recreation Resources Service (RRS), to create and implement a county park and recreation master plan.
The NCAA, along with the ACC, has recognized the growing issue of mental health among student-athletes. Despite the increase in mental health issues, there is a concern that institutional resources devoted to supporting the clinical and psychological needs of student-athletes is lacking. This issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected university athletic departments’ finances while simultaneously increasing the stress on student-athletes. Although a growing body of research has explored factors behind student-athlete mental health during this pandemic, little research has explored the scope and best practices of mental health services that may be effective in supporting student-athletes. This study will conduct focus groups with 20 sport psychologists and athletic trainers across the ACC Schools to provide both context of current issues facing student-athletes and explore their insights of current initiatives and resources designed to provide the best mental health support during a challenging period.
To increase physical activity among African Americans and low-income residents in Edgecombe County, NC State Extension will 1) increase the number and promotion of shared use policies and practices in key community organizations, 2) connect and promote vital county and town physical activity resources through wayfinding and signage, 3) support municipalities in improving connectivity between places people live, learn, work, play and pray through walking and recreation space audits, 4) support and promote walking and biking to and during school, and 5) partner with Recreation Resource Services (RRS), the nation’s oldest technical assistance and applied research program for parks and recreation agencies in North Carolina, to create and implement a county and municipal park and recreation master plan.
To increase physical activity among African Americans and low-income residents in Edgecombe County, NC State and Edgecombe County Cooperative Extension will 1) increase the number and promotion of shared use policies in community organizations, 2) connect and promote vital physical activity resources through wayfinding and signage, 3) improve connectivity between places people live, learn, work, play and pray through walking and recreation space audits, 4) support and promote walking and biking to and during school, and 5) partner with Recreation Resources Service (RRS), to create and implement a county park and recreation master plan.
Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S. remains a significant public health concern. Being overweight or obese is associated with increased risk for diabetes, heart disease and a range of other chronic diseases. Research shows that minority and low-income populations are disproportionately affected by obesity compared to the general population. This project, “A Multi-Level Approach to Prevent Obesity: Extension and Engagement in Four North Carolina Countiesâ€ÂÂ, identifies several strategies to prevent obesity in four counties in North Carolina: Lee, Edgecombe, Halifax, and Northampton. By partnering with local Extension offices, health departments, parks and recreation departments, schools, and faith communities, we aim to: 1) increase opportunities for individual education around healthy eating and physical activity, drawing on research-based Extension programming such as EFNEP, SNAP-Education and Faithful Families Eating Smart and Moving More; 2) increase partnerships and supporting coalitions that are focused on increasing access to healthy foods and places to be active; 3) increase the number of organizations (faith communities and schools) and food retail establishments (corner stores and farmers’ markets) that implement healthy food standards or increase access to fresh and local foods; and 4) increase the availability of places to be active through Active Routes to School programs, shared use practices in community organizations, and standards that encourage physical activity in Afterschool setting. Through a comprehensive approach, based on the socio-ecological model, we aim to better understand the role Extension can play in preventing obesity, particularly in low-income and minority communities in North Carolina.
Inefficiencies in the U.S. health care system create barriers to providing the highest quality of prevention and treatment services, particularly for vulnerable communities. What the U.S. spends for health care relative to improvements in population health highlights symptoms of a failing system. Physical activity (PA) has been identified as one of four key modifiable risk behaviors contributing to chronic diseases. Despite evidence that increased PA reduces preventable chronic diseases, health care professionals including primary care doctors may lack knowledge to effectively counsel patients on activity and program options for PA. Community parks and recreation services can play a much larger role in providing both prevention and treatment, offering an alternative and a more cost effective and efficient preventive medical approach. Park Rx programs seek to strengthen the connection between the healthcare system and parks and recreation services. In such programs, physicians and other healthcare providers prescribe to patients’ use of parks and recreation services for prevention and treatment for a range of chronic diseases. This project is a collaborative effort between NC State, two to four Federally Qualified Health Centers, and the NC Division of Public Health (NCDPH), Chronic Disease and Injury Section. We will also engage two key partners: North Carolina Parks and Recreation Association (NCRPA) and Recreation Resources Service (RRS), a state-level technical assistance program that supports public parks and recreation department in all 100 NC counties. These two organizations could potentially coordinate partnerships between parks and recreation departments in the project counties and the volunteer focus group participants. This project will develop an app that would allow FQHC staff and their patients to identify opportunities for physical activity programs and facilities in the patient's community that matches their interest, physical abilities/disabilities, and leisure skills.
The purpose of this project is to create a public facing tool to assess the relative health benefits and risks of playing the most commonly offered sports. The Healthy Sport Index will collect physical activity data for the 10 sports most commonly played by adolescents as determined by the most recent High School Athletics Participation Survey. High school sports were selected because they represent a regulated sport environment with fairly consistent structure and delivery across the nation; they also offer the richest available research and data sets for youth athletes. Specific scope of work activities for this contract include: • Collect data for physical activity measures in Raleigh-Durham and New York City high schools. A minimum of 400 high school athletes in 10 boys sports and 10 girls sports will be evaluated. • Train and manage data collection observers at both locations. • Organize and analyze data for physical activity measures. • Participate in meetings, as a member of the Healthy Sport Index Advisory Group, with travel costs covered by the Institute. Travel costs will also be provided to attend the 2017 and 2018 Project Play Summits. • Participate in regular calls with Institute staff and Advisory Group members. • Produce an academic journal article related to the physical activity findings from the Healthy Sport Index project. • Coordinate with Institute staff to capture psychological insights from the teams being measured about the role of sport in contributing to their motivation to remain active.
Inefficiencies in the U.S. health care system create barriers to providing the highest quality of prevention and treatment services, particularly for vulnerable communities. What the U.S. spends for health care relative to improvements in population health highlights symptoms of a failing system. Physical activity (PA) has been identified as one of four key modifiable risk behaviors contributing to chronic diseases. Despite evidence that increased PA reduces preventable chronic diseases, health care professionals including primary care doctors may lack knowledge to effectively counsel patients on activity and program options for PA. Community parks and recreation services can play a much larger role in providing both prevention and treatment, offering an alternative and a more cost effective and efficient preventive medical approach. Park Rx programs seek to strengthen the connection between the healthcare system and parks and recreation services. In such programs, physicians and other healthcare providers prescribe to patients’ use of parks and recreation services for prevention and treatment for a range of chronic diseases. This project is a collaborative effort between NC State, two to four Federally Qualified Health Centers, and the NC Division of Public Health (NCDPH), Chronic Disease and Injury Section. We will also engage two key partners: North Carolina Parks and Recreation Association (NCRPA) and Recreation Resources Service (RRS), a state-level technical assistance program that supports public parks and recreation department in all 100 NC counties. These two organizations could potentially coordinate partnerships between parks and recreation departments in the project counties and the volunteer focus group participants. This project will develop an app that would allow FQHC staff and their patients to identify opportunities for physical activity programs and facilities in the patient's community that matches their interest, physical abilities/disabilities, and leisure skills.
This research is a collaborative effort between NC State and the NPS that will develop an inventory of historical and current RDI programs, initiatives, services, and activities designed to help NPS realize its vision and achieve its goals in the following areas: Relevancy, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. Specifically, the inventory will describe and examine strategies, population(s) targeted, staff, funding, and other resources, external partnerships, and outcomes including whether the activity is site specific or whether it can be replicated. The goal is to design it so that it can be transferred into an online interactive format.