Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Lab (O.R.C.)
at the University of Tennessee
Dr. Ryan Sharp
Associate Professor and Lab Director
Research Partner - Leave No Trace
Research Scholar - Clemson University Institute for Parks
Dr. Ryan Sharp has been conducting research for park and protected area managers for over 15 years. His work revolves around the balance between high quality visitor experiences and the conservation of the resources visitors so desire to enjoy. Dr. Sharp has done work for such parks as the Grand Canyon National Park (AZ), Katmai National Park (AK), Joshua Tree National Park (CA) and Cumberland Island National Seashore (GA). He has also worked with Cimarron National Grasslands (KS) and the Daniel Boone National Forest (KY). Additionally Dr. Sharp has conducted projects in Aruba, the Seychelles and Argentina. His work employs multiple methods to understand visitor use, such as GPS tracking, surveys, the use of trail cameras and counters, social media and cell phone data collection and more qualitative methods such as semi-structured and unstructured interviews.
Susan Schexnayder
Senior Research Associate
Ms. Schexnayder has worked extensively with the USDA National Forest Service and the State of Tennessee to build data and information for their recreation and natural resource management programs. Ms. Schexnayder cooperates with Forest Service Region 8 to conduct the National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) recreation data collection on National Forests in eight southeastern states and was the data quality control specialist for the NVUM program’s final two years of data collection using paper forms. She also led the data collection efforts and collaborated on the analysis of the National Survey of Recreation and Environment (2009-2012). To inform the State of Tennessee’s last three outdoor recreation plans, she has conducted surveys of Tennesseans outdoor recreation patterns, preferences and motivations and assessed usage and economic impacts of Tennessee State Parks. Additionally, she has conducted recreation assessments for other states and federal agencies. In partnership with colleague at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Ms. Schexnayder also conducts research combining qualitative and quantitative methods to explore factors affecting and motivations for use of agricultural management practices and technologies.
Current Lab Members
Katie Smith
Graduate Research Assistant - PhD Student
I am a Natural Resources doctoral student at the University of Tennessee. I am from New Hampshire originally, but I currently live in Wyoming with my husband and two golden retrievers. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire, and a Master's in Tourism Management from Colorado State University. My areas of focus are going to be protected areas and gateway communities, although I am equally passionate about zoning plans and host community rights. I love reading, running, and Indian food. Oh, and my favorite national park is Zion!
Taylor Bogucki
Graduate Research Assistant - MS Student
Taylor is a graduate student at the University of Tennessee pursuing a degree in Forestry. He received his undergraduate degree in Parks Recreation Tourism & Management (PRTM) from Clemson University. Taylor is interested in researching outdoor recreation and public land management by utilizing visitor use management and GIS applications. Originally from Fort Mill, SC, Taylor has gained valuable experience working at the YMCA Camp Cherokee, Anne Springs Close Greenway, and the Clemson Park Solutions lab. Additionally, Taylor loves traveling, playing disc golf, and watching Jeopardy! In his opinion, there is no moment as awe-inspiring as driving out of the tunnel in Yosemite National Park and seeing Yosemite Valley.
Madison Janes
Graduate Research Assistant - MS Student
Madison is a graduate student at the University of Tennessee and received her Environmental Studies and Sustainability undergraduate degree from Michigan State University. She is originally from Michigan. Madison is interested in visitor use management and social and environmental aspects of outdoor recreation. Madison loves exploring trails and parks, reading, baking, checking out coffee shops, and any excuse to get a Caesar salad. Her favorite parks are Glacier National Park and Tahquamenon Falls State Park back home in Michigan.
Past MS and PhD Students
Susi Algrim - MS
Susi completed her MS degree in 2017. Her thesis was titled "Finding common ground: Horse riders’ preferences and potential for conflict for varying management actions." She is currently the executive director for the Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition.
Tyler Cribbs - MS
Tyler completed his MS degree in 2018. His thesis was titled "Evaluating the Impact of Photo Order on Perceptions of Crowding at Buffalo NationalRiver." He completed his PhD at Clemson University working under Dr. Jeff Hallo and is currently an instructor at Eckard College in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Karl Noren - MS
Karl completed his MS degree in 2018. His thesis was titled "Stakeholder attitudes towards and wildlife acceptance capacity for elk (Cervus elaphus) in Kansas." After graduation he was an instructor for the Park Management and Conservation program at KSU. He is currently a teacher in Cameroon.
Dani Dagan - MS
Dani completed her MS degree in 2019. Her thesis was titled "Social media as a means of understanding park visitors: An evaluation of user-generated content related to two low use, remote national parks." She is currently a PhD canidate at Clemson University working under Dr. Matthew Brownlee.
Kristin Sikorsky - MS
Kristen completed her MS degree in 2020. Her thesis was titled "The use of drones for recreational impact monitoring of public lands." She is currently a Recreation Staff Officer with the US Forest Service in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.
Dylan Doeblin - MS
Dylan completed his MS degree in 2021. His thesis was titled "The experienced condition and moderating variables as a potential predictor of visitor thresholds in outdoor recreation setting." Dylan recently worked for the National Park Service as a Visitor Use Specialist at Joshua Tree National Park.
Amy Cochran - MS
Amy completed her MS degree in 2021. Her thesis was titled "Evaluation of visitor travel patterns after signage treatments at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve." Amy recently worked for the National Park Service as an Interpretive Ranger at Tallgrass National Prairie and Preserve.
Sarah Jackson - PhD
Dr. Jackson completed her PhD degree in 2021. Her dissertation was titled "Christianity and national parks: Seeing God in nature-based experiences." After completing a post-doc at the University of Maine, Sarah has returned to the Park Management and Conservation program at KSU where she serves as a professor and researcher.
Michael Brunson - PhD
Dr. Brunson completed his PhD in 2021. His dissertation was titled "Plans for the Future: An Examination of Research Methodology and Education in Parks and Protected Area Visitor Use Management." He is currently serving as a professor in the Parks and Recreation Management program at Auburn University in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment.
Marisol Mayorga - PhD
Dr. Mayorga completed her PhD in 2022. Her dissertation was titled "Public use management in protected areas: Laying the way for a new research trail in post pandemic Costa Rica." She is currently a professor of ecotourism at the University of Costa Rica.
Rachel Shivley - PhD
Dr. Shivley completed her PhD in 2023. Her dissertation was titled "The interface of wildlife and nature tourism." She is currently working as Natural Resources Specialist for the Burearu of Land Management
Jessy Wilkes - MS
Jessy completed her MS in 2023. Her thesis was titled "Intersecting identities: Investigating effects of multiple hierarchy stratification perspective on visitor activity participation." She recently worked as a social science tech at Grand Teton National Park and is currently employed as Natural Resources Specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service .
Molly Worm - MS
Molly completed her MS in 2023. Her thesis was titled "Place attachment to campus and community green spaces."
Joseph Ward - MS
Joe completed his MS in 2023. His thesis was titled "Investigating Visitor Behavior in Relation to Leave No Trace Practices." He is currently working at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Cait Henry - PhD
Dr. Henry completed their PhD in 20234. Their dissertation was titled "Hallowed ground and hollow victories: Reckoning with Civil War history and memory through expanded interpretation at Manassas National Battlefield Park."