Sonia Preisser, a second-year doctoral candidate in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at NC State, is one of three students in the College of Natural Resources to be selected for the 2022 cohort of the Climate Leaders Program.
The Climate Leaders Program — administered by the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science (KIETS) — aims “to build strong partnerships among students, faculty mentors, and internship hosts while working together to develop solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts.”
During her time as a Climate Leaders Program Scholar, Preisser is studying the relationship between alternative sports, behavior and sustainable development under the guidance of Kyle Bunds and Jonathan Casper, both professors of parks, recreation and tourism management. She plans to intern with Sport Positive, a United Kingdom-based organization that focuses on supporting global sports organizations to increase ambition and action on climate change.
“Alternative sports have the potential to serve as another tool in the fight against climate change, and towards the achievement of sustainable development,” Preisser said. “However, research to better understand how these activities may contribute in this area is limited and I want to contribute towards it.”
We recently spoke with Preisser about her experience as a Climate Leaders Program Scholar and the impact she hopes to make through her research. Check out the Q&A below to learn more.
Why did you choose the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management program at NC State for your graduate studies?
I chose the program because of my advisors mainly. I also chose it because I had some influential professors refer me to the program as it was one of the few that would allow me with the flexibility to do the type of research I was wanting to do, while providing me the tools, knowledge and skills to push the boundaries and keep growing as a researcher.
What does it mean to you to be named a KIETS Climate Leaders Scholar?
It means a lot — mostly recognition that pushing the limits of the different areas and bringing together fields to solve pressing problems has been worth it. It is definitely great to see that my research resonates with more than just myself which gives me hope that I may be able to have the impact I am wanting to have within the field.
What challenges are you hoping to address through your research?
My main goal right now is to better understand the aspects of alternative sports participation that may or may not impact participants’ worldview and their subsequent behaviors as a result of this worldview in order to then better tailor sports programs to help address social and environmental problems in communities worldwide.
What motivated you to pursue this research?
I have been an athlete all my life, and I have also been passionate about the environment and addressing social issues, so what better way than combining all my passions to provide another tool to address one of humanity’s biggest problems?
In what ways have your faculty mentors helped to guide you through this research?
I cannot say enough good things about my advisors, I am extremely grateful for both of them! They have taken all the things I have thrown their way head on, including the KIETS fellowship. They do not shy away from any of my ideas or from any of the things I want to pursue, and they are always in my corner and provide advice and guidance whenever I need it. The best part I would say is that they are they type of advisors with whom I can have open and honest conversations with.
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