Jonathan Casper
Bio
Biography
I am an internationally recognized scholar and educator whose work bridges sport, health promotion, environmental sustainability, and community engagement. Since joining NC State in 2005 as the first tenure-track hire in the Sport Management major, I have built a distinguished career as a teacher, researcher, and leader.
With expertise in strategic marketing across parks, recreation, tourism, and sport, I create inclusive, research-driven, and career-focused learning environments. My teaching excellence has been recognized with the NC State Outstanding Teacher Award (2020), the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award (2022), and induction into the Academy of Outstanding Teachers. In 2023, my graduate course received Quality Matters National Certification. I have chaired or co-chaired six Ph.D. students, served on more than 30 graduate committees, and mentored ten undergraduate research projects—two of which earned Best Presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
My research focuses on two primary areas:
Sport & Health Promotion – I investigate how sport participation benefits physical, psychological, and social well-being, with funding from the Aspen Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. My recent work on pickleball’s health and social benefits has been featured in Time and has led to partnerships with Penn State College of Medicine and state-level health initiatives.
Sport Ecology – As a pioneer in examining the relationship between sport and the natural environment, I co-edited the first textbook in the field and have influenced policy and practice at organizations from the Olympics to the ACC. My work has been funded by the UN/IOC, PepsiCo, and others, and featured in outlets like NPR and Grist.
I have published extensively in leading journals, delivered keynote addresses, and am recognized as a collaborative scholar, leveraging my quantitative expertise to work with colleagues across disciplines and continents.
Since 2009, I have served as Sport Management Undergraduate Program Coordinator, guiding curriculum development, assessment, and program growth for one of NC State’s largest majors. My service includes chairing faculty searches, leading the Peer Review of Teaching Committee, and contributing to sustainability initiatives on campus and in intercollegiate athletics. Nationally and internationally, I have held roles in the Sport Ecology Group, the ACC Sustainability Team, and the Green Sport Alliance.
Education
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado. Ph.D. 2004
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado. M.A. 2001
Pitzer College, Claremont, California. B.A. 1995
Recent Courses Taught
PRT 475 Internship in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
PRT 476 Sport Marketing
PRT 507 Strategic Marketing Management in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Sport
Awards
Quality Matters-Certified Higher Education Peer Reviewer, 2024
Quality Matters National Certification, PRT 507 Strategic Marketing Management in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Sport Organizations, Quality Matters, 2023
NC State Distinguished Alumni Undergraduate Professor Award. NC State Alumni Association, NC State, 2021-2022
Outstanding Teacher Award, North Carolina State University, 2019 – 2020
NC State Green Brick Award, Campus Environmental Sustainability, 2012
Outstanding Advisor of the Year, College of Natural Resources, NC State, 2006
Publications
- Association of Pickleball Participation With Decreased Perceived Loneliness and Social Isolation: Results of a National Survey , (2025)
- Editorial: Climate change and sports events adaptations , (2025)
- An Exploratory Study of a Health and Wellness Intervention on STEM College Students During COVID-19 , RECREATIONAL SPORTS JOURNAL (2023)
- Parental decisions on return to youth sport during a global pandemic: Examining parental decisions by race, gender, and socio-economic status , Journal of Sport Behavior (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)
- Sport teams' promotion of plant-based food consumption among fans , SPORT MANAGEMENT REVIEW (2023)
- African Americans’ outdoor recreation involvement, leisure satisfaction, and subjective well-being , Current Psychology (2022)
- Building Resilient Inclusive Communities (BRIC): Community Focus Group Findings Report , (2022)
- Examination of Ecological Systems Contexts Within a Latino-Based Community Sport Youth Development Initiative , Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (2022)