Tenure-Line Asst. Professor of RPTM

Penn State University•University Park, IL

35d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (RPTM) at Penn State is seeking to hire a tenure-line faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in Fall 2027. The position focuses broadly on outdoor recreation management (public lands policy and governance, outdoor recreation economy, environmental justice and access to nature, climate adaption), visitor use management (carrying capacity, visitor monitoring technologies, recreation ecology), and/or the intersection between people, nature, and health (nature-based health interventions, restorative environments, environmental psychology). The successful candidate will be expected to have an active line of programmatic research and be prepared to supervise and fund graduate (M.S./Ph.D.) student research. The department is particularly interested in researchers whose work fits inter- or transdisciplinary collaborations and who engage in cutting-edge research methods, including innovative quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches, or emerging computational methods. Candidates who can make meaningful contributions and linkages to cross-campus entities and engage community organizations and agencies are also desired. The department serves approximately 350 undergraduate students and values effective teaching and student engagement. The candidate will be expected to teach in the RPTM undergraduate core, the Outdoor Recreation Management option area, the Sustainability Leadership Minor, and the graduate program, with a commitment to engaged and inclusive learning practices in both in-person and online settings. Service commitments to the department, college, university, and profession are also expected. The College of Health and Human Development offers eight interdisciplinary programs focused on enriching lives through research, teaching, and outreach. Penn State University is a top-ranked research institution located in State College, PA, offering a vibrant university town environment with access to major metropolitan areas. The university is committed to advancing equity, respect, and belonging.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management or a related field.
Active line of programmatic research.
Preparedness to supervise and fund graduate student research.
Willingness and ability to teach in the RPTM undergraduate core, Outdoor Recreation Management option area, Sustainability Leadership Minor, and graduate program.
Commitment to engaged and inclusive learning practices in in-person and/or online classrooms.
Willingness to fulfill service commitments to the department, college, university, and profession.
Successful completion of background check(s).

Nice To Haves

Researchers whose work is fit for inter- or transdisciplinary collaborations.
Researchers engaging in cutting-edge research-methods, whether that is innovative quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches, or emerging computational methods (e.g., machine learning applications, wearable sensors and physiological monitoring, environmental sensors and GPS tracking, agent-based modeling, scenario modeling).
Candidates who can make meaningful contributions and linkages to cross-campus entities (e.g., Institutes for Energies and Environment, Ecology Institute, Social Science Research Institute, Institute of Computational or Data Sciences, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Education Center, Center for Social Data Analytics and associated SODA dual-title doctoral program, and/or the dual-degree graduate program in Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society (TREES)).
Candidates who would be able to engage community organizations and agencies involved in land management, outdoor recreation management, or engagement with individuals in the outdoors.

Responsibilities

Conduct programmatic research in outdoor recreation management, visitor use management, and/or the intersection of people, nature, and health.
Supervise and fund graduate (M.S./Ph.D.) student research.
Engage in inter- or transdisciplinary collaborations.
Utilize cutting-edge research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, and computational approaches.
Make meaningful contributions and linkages to cross-campus entities.
Engage community organizations and agencies involved in land management, outdoor recreation, or engagement with individuals in the outdoors.
Teach in the RPTM undergraduate core, Outdoor Recreation Management option area, Sustainability Leadership Minor, and graduate program.
Commit to engaged and inclusive learning practices in in-person and/or online classrooms.
Fulfill service commitments to the RPTM department, the College of Health and Human Development, the University, and the profession.