About Interim Dean Myron F. Floyd

Dr. Myron F. Floyd currently serves as the Interim Dean of the College of Natural Resources at NC State University. Dr. Floyd first joined the college in 2005 as a Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. In 2010, he was appointed to serve as Director of Graduate Programs for the department, and in 2014, he became Department Head.

Dr. Floyd brings 35 years of experience in teaching, research and administration. An elected Fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences, Dr. Floyd is widely recognized as a leading scholar in the area of race, ethnicity and outdoor recreation behavior. His most recent research examines how public parks and other features of the built environment contribute to physical activity in low-income communities of color. Dr. Floyd’s research appears in wide variety of social science and public health journals.

During his tenure as Department Head, Dr. Floyd grew the department’s teaching, research and extension capacity by adding faculty expertise in new areas including land use and ecosystem services, conservation behavior, environmental education, diversity and environmental justice, crowdsourcing data for health research, geospatial analytics and worksite physical activity.

Prior to coming to NC State, Dr. Floyd served on the faculty at Clemson University, Texas A&M University (College Station), and the University of Florida.

Education

• Ph.D. Recreation and Resources Development, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
• M.S. Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
• M.S. Recreation and Park Administration, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina

Research Interests

• Physical activity and the built environment
• Health disparities
• Race/ethnicity and leisure activity preferences
• Environmental justice
• Health benefits of urban green space

Awards and Honors

• Elected Member, American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, 2019
• Leadership for a Diverse Campus Workshop Series, NC State University Office of the Provost, 2014
• Outstanding Alumni, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, 2014
• University of South Australia Distinguished Professor Scholarship, 2010
• Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award, National Recreation and Park Association, 2008
• Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, 2007
• Ben H. Box Award for Excellence, Clemson University, 2006
• Fellow, The Academy of Leisure Sciences, Elected 2005
• Allen V. Sapora Research Award, University of Illinois, 2004
• Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture, 1989

Publications

• Building evidence to reduce inequities in youth physical activity and obesity: Introduction to the Physical Activity Research Center (PARC) Special Section (2019)
• How Does Park Use and Physical Activity Differ between Childhood and Adolescence? A Focus on Gender and Race-Ethnicity (2019)
• Park use preferences and physical activity among ethnic minority children in low-income neighborhoods in New York City (2019)
• Scholarship on Race and Ethnicity: Assessing Contributions to Leisure Theory and Practice (2019)
• Short-term associations between objective crime, park-use, and park-based physical activity in low-income neighborhoods (2019)
• Whose National Park Service? An Examination of Relevancy, Diversity, and Inclusion Programs from 2005-2016 (2019)
• An exploratory study of perceived safety in a neighborhood park using immersive virtual environments (2018)
• Associations Between Worksite Walkability, Greenness, and Physical Activity Around Work (2018)
• Black Spaces/White Spaces: Black Lives, Leisure, and Life Politics (2018)
• Outdoor Time, Screen Time, and Connection to Nature: Troubling Trends Among Rural Youth? (2018)

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CV

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