Graduate Directory

Xavier Basurto

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Manta, Ecuador
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor’s in International Business Management
Graduate Degrees:Master’s in International Hospitality and Tourism Management
Master’s in Business Management
Primary Research Interest(s): Behavior and identity construction of recreationists in water environments
Advisor: Drs. Kyle Bunds and Bryan Clift
Contact: xabasurt@ncsu.edu

Christopher Boyer

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Pottsville, PA
Undergraduate Degree: Journalism, B.A., University of Maryland
Graduate Degree: Sport Management, M.S., West Virginia University
Primary Research Interest(s): Mental Health as Related to Participation in College Sports
Advisor: Jason Bocarro
Contact: ccboyer@ncsu.edu

Sarah Dinger

Degree Sought: Ph.D. in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Hometown: Croton, New York
Undergraduate Degree: Biology & Society, Cornell University
Graduate Degrees: Agricultural Education & Extension, NC State University
Primary Research Interest(s): Informal Science Education and Evaluation, Experiential Learning, STEM
Education and Access to Research Opportunities
Advisor: Dr. Kathryn Stevenson
Contact: scdinge2@ncsu.edu

Sweta Dixit

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Undergraduate Degree: Environmental Science, B.S., Tribhuvan University
Graduate Degree: Wildlife and Fisheries Science, M.S., University of Tennessee
Primary Research Interest(s): Human-Wildlife and Park-People Conflict and Co-Existence, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Community-Based Conservation, and Protected Area Management.
Advisor: Lincoln Larson
Contact: sdixit2@ncsu.edu

Nicholas Drake

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Watkins Glen, New York
Undergraduate Degree: Physical Education, B.S., SUNY Cortland University
Graduate Degrees: Kinesiology and Health Promotion, M.S., University of Kentucky, M.Ed. in Sport Administration, Xavier University
Primary Research Interest(s): Community and Amateur Sport, Role of Sport and Recreation in Creating Active, Healthy, Sustainable, and Resilient Communities
Advisors: Kimberly Bush and Jonathan Casper
Contact: nrdrake@ncsu.edu

Sarah Farrar

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
Undergraduate Degree: Experiential and Outdoor Education (BS) and Psychology (BA) – Appalachian State University
Graduate Degree: Outdoor and Experiential Education (MS) – Western Carolina University
Primary Research Interest(s): Race and power relations in outdoor leisure
Advisor: Dr. Corey Johnson
Contact: sefarrar@ncsu.edu

Seana Finn

Degree: M.S., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Valrico, Florida
Undergraduate Degree: Biology, B.S., Shaw University
Primary Research Interest(s): Wetland Ecology and Community Science
Advisor: Caren Cooper
Contact: snfinn@ncsu.edu

Kayla Gilligan

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelors of Science in Natural Resources with Concentration in Public Administration and Policy from NC State University
Graduate Degree: Masters of Science in Parks Recreation and Tourism Management
Primary Research Interest(s): Environmental Justice Disaster Resilience, Arts-Based Research, Policy & Public Administration, Community Engagement
Advisor: Dr. Bethany Cutts
Contact: kcgillig@ncsu.edu

Junga Han

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University
Undergraduate Degree: Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, B.S., Politics, Economics, and Law, B.A., Korea University
Graduate Degree: Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture, M.S., Korea University
Primary Research Interest(s): Physical Activity and Activity Patterns Across Built Environments, Including Parks and Playground
Advisor: Aaron Hipp
Contact: jhan32@ncsu.edu

Cassidy Hawkins

Degree Sought: Ph.D. in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Hometown: Boone, North Carolina
Undergraduate Degree: Zoology, B.S., NC State University
Graduate Degrees: Biology, M.S., NC State University
Primary Research Interest(s): Visitor engagement and outreach in zoos using participatory science and how visitors can contribute to the behavioral management/observation of animals under human care
Advisor: Dr. Lincoln Larson
Contact: cnhubbar@ncsu.edu

Ann Morgan Hawthorne

Degree Sought: M.S., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Boykins, Virginia
Undergraduate Degree: Agricultural and Extension Education, B.S., North Carolina State University
Primary Research Interest(s): Agritourism, Sustainable Tourism, Local Food Systems
Advisor: Carla Barbieri
Contact: amhawtho@ncsu.edu

Brooklynn N. Joyner

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Pinetops, North Carolina
Undergraduate Degree: Plant Biology, B.S., NC State University
Primary Research Interest(s): Participatory Science Outcomes, Public Trust in Science, Engaging Rural Communities With Science and Nature
Advisor: Lincoln Larson
Contact: bmnewber@ncsu.edu

Katie King

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Livonia, Michigan
Undergraduate Degree: Community Health Education, B.S., Wayne State University
Graduate Degree: Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration, M.S., Western Illinois University
Primary Research Interest(s): Community Health, Social Justice, Gender Equity in Sports, and Positive Youth Development
Advisor: Drs. Michael Edwards and Kimberly Bush
Contact: kking6@ncsu.edu

Peizhe Li

Degree Sought: Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Changchun, Jilin Province, China
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Tourism Development and Management, Arizona State University
Graduate Degree: M.S. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University
Primary Research Interest(s):Climate adaptation planning; Community engagement; Conservation social science; Visitor use management
Advisor: Drs. Erin Seekamp and Yu-Fai Leung
Contact: pli26@ncsu.edu

Maeghan Luttrell

Degree Sought: M.S., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Undergraduate Degree: Forestry and Wildland Recreation, B.S., University of Tennessee
Primary Research Interest(s): Childhood Obesity in Low-Income Communities, Public Health, Physical Health, and Outdoor Recreation
Advisor: Jason Bocarro and Aaron Hipp
Contact: mlluttre@ncsu.edu

Derek McNamara

Degree Sought: M.S. in Natural Resources (Outdoor Recreation Tech. Opt.)
Hometown: Huntingtown, Maryland
Undergraduate Degree: Criminology and Criminal Justice, B.A., University of Maryland
Primary Research Interest(s): National Parks and Forests, Preservation vs. Conservation, Interaction with Recreation
Advisor: Yu-Fai Leung
Contact: damcnama@ncsu.edu

Kushagra Meshram

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Bastar, Chhattisgarh, India
Undergraduate Degree: Forestry, B.S., Wildlife Institute of India
Graduate Degree: Wildlife Science, M.Sc., Wildlife Institute of India
Primary Research Interest(s): Large Animal Conservation, Wildlife Laws and Policies, Sustainable Tourism and Conservation Education
Advisor: Lincoln Larson
Contact: kmeshra@ncsu.edu

Anna Woodroof Mulqueen

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina and Boston, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Degree: Sustainability Studies, B.A., Stony Brook University
Graduate Degree: Sustainable International Development, M.A., Brandeis University
Primary Research Interest(s): Participatory Science and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Advisor: Caren Cooper
Contact: amwoodro@ncsu.edu

Nicole Odell

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Miami, Florida and Colorado Springs, Colorado
Undergraduate Degree: Chemistry, B.A., Florida State University
Graduate Degrees: Chemistry, M.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Health Promotion, MSc, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Primary Research Interest(s): Physical Activity and Built Environment
Advisor: Aaron Hipp
Contact: neodell@ncsu.edu

Kayla Patterson

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Undergraduate Degree: Psychology, B.A., New York University
Graduate Degree: Higher Education Student Affairs, M.Ed., Western Carolina University
Primary Research Interest(s): Activism and Community Enhancement Initiatives that Address the Intersectionalities Between Earth Justice and Social Justice within Historically Marginalized Communities, Emphasis: Afrocentricity and Ecowomanism
Advisor: Corey Johnson
Contact: krpatte4@ncsu.edu

Chloe Phillips

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Elgin, Oklahoma
Undergraduate Degree: Sports and Exercise Science, B.S., Cameron University
Graduate Degree: Sport Administration, M.A., University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Primary Research Interest(s): Impact of Recreational and Competitive Sports on Individuals and Communities
Advisors Corey Johnson and Bryan Clift
Contact: cnphill5@ncsu.edu

Muhammad Ikbal Putera

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
Undergraduate Degree: Silviculture, B.S., IPB University, Indonesia
Graduate Degree: Forest Resources and Conservation, M.S., University of Florida
Primary Research Interest(s): Youth Engagement and Conservation Education in National Parks; World Heritage Sites and Visitor Management in Protected Areas
Advisor: Yu-Fai Leung
Contact: miputera@ncsu.edu

Andrew Ross

Degrees Sought: M.S., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, and M.R., Geospatial Information Science and Technology
Hometown: Wilmington, North Carolina
Undergraduate Degree: Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, B.S., North Carolina State University
Primary Research Interest(s): Increasing Resilience in Coastal Communities and Participatory GIS Mapping
Advisor: Erin Seekamp
Contact: ajross8@ncsu.edu

Scott Schneider

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Hartland, WI
Undergraduate Degree: Communications & Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Graduate Degree: Recreation Management (M.S.), University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Adult and Community College Education (M.Ed.), North Carolina State University
Primary Research Interest(s): Nature and Health, Outdoor/Environmental Education and Pedagogy
Advisor: Dr. Kathryn Stevenson
Contact: srschne2@ncsu.edu

Lydia Sellers

Degree Sought: M.S., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Grant Park, Illinois
Undergraduate Degree: Environmental Science and Policy with a Marine Conservation Concentration, B.S., Duke University
Primary Research Interest(s): Environmental Education to Promote Healthy Communities and Confront Injustices
Advisor: Kathryn Stevenson
Contact: lseller@ncsu.edu

Danielle Smith

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Undergraduate Degree: Marketing, B.S., University of Maryland
Graduate Degrees: Sport Business Management, MSBM and MBA, University of Central Florida
Primary Research Interest(s): Social Marketing Impact on Sport Fans
Advisor: Jonathan Casper
Contact: dsmith26@ncsu.edu

Krista White

Degree Sought: Ph.D., Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Undergraduate Degree: English, B.A., University of North Carolina Wilmington
Graduate Degrees: Park and Resource Management, M.S., Environmental Education, M.Ed., Slippery Rock University
Primary Research Interest(s): Impacts of Outdoor Recreation on Public Lands and the Intersection of Tourism
Advisor: Whitney Knollenberg
Contact: klwhite7@ncsu.edu

Sarah Yelton

Degree Sought: Ph.D. in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Undergraduate Degree: B.A., Recreation Administration & Anthropology, UNC-Chapel Hill
Graduate Degrees: M.S., Natural Resources – Environmental Education, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Primary Research Interest(s): Informal Science Learning, Nature-based Learning, Experiential Learning, Place-based Education
Advisor: Dr. Kathryn Stevenson
Contact: skyelton@ncsu.edu

Liani Yirka

Degree Sought: Ph.D. in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Hometown: Live in Siler City, NC; from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate Degree: Zoology, NC State University
Graduate Degrees: Zoology/Applied Ecology, NC State University
Primary Research Interest(s): Universal design and benefits of outdoor learning for people with disabilities
Advisor: Dr. Kathryn Stevenson
Contact: lmzabala@ncsu.edu

Graduate Directory