FACULTY & SYLLABI
 

Dr. Edward Udd

Chair and Professor.  B.S. (Forest Resources), University of Washington; M.S. (Renewable Natural Resources), University of Nevada-Reno; and Ph.D. (Park and Recreation Resources), Michigan State University.  Academic interests: Natural resource recreation, international education, management, planning, and sustainable development.  Over one hundred presentations and publications.  Recent activity included presentations in France (ecotourism), Canada (planning and community development), and Mexico (sustainable development).  Helped create a student/faculty exchange agreement with Blaise Pascal University in France.  Took the lead on RCPT’s reaccreditation document (Fall, 2008).  An academic accreditation visitor for the National Recreation and Park Association (recertified in Baltimore, 2008).  Office: 150 Waldron Hall, (540) 831-7720.

RCPT 230 Introduction to Outdoor Recreation
RCPT 328 Design and Maintenance of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources

Dr. Jim Newman, CTRS

Assistant Professor.  B.S. (Recreation: Therapeutic Recreation), University of Northern Colorado; M.A. (Recreation: Recreation Administration), University of Northern Colorado; and Ph.D. (Education: Outdoor Therapeutic Recreation), University of Minnesota.  Academic interests: Model railroading as therapeutic intervention, outdoor adventure therapy, historical interpretation, and heritage tourism.  Presented nationally and internationally on recreation therapy and inclusion/access to outdoor and adventure recreation for people with a wide variety of abilities.  Secured over $150k in grants and contributions to support the formation of a self-sustaining outdoor recreation program that primarily serves people with severe multiple disabilities. Office:  140 Waldron Hall, (540) 831-7717.  (RT LAB)

(Classes are accessible on WebCT)
 

Dr. Teresa O'Bannon

Associate Professor.  B.A. (Recreation, Tourism Management and Design), University of Oregon; M.S. (Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Management), University of Tennessee-Knoxville; and Ph.D. (Higher Education Administration), Washington State University.  Academic interests: Dark Tourism, rural tourism development, use of technology in recreation, parks and tourism education. Coordinator of Tourism and Recreation Management concentration; department liaison for the International Business with French programme at Blaise Pascal University, Vichy France. Office: 142 Waldron Hall, (540) 831-7722.

RCPT 350 Commercial Recreation and Tourism
RCPT 365 Legal Liability and Risk Management
RCPT 423 Recreation Administration
RCPT 431 Managing Travel Resources

(Classes are accessible on WebCT)
 

Mr. James “Fred” Pierson

RCPT 112 Activity Leadership and Analysis

(Classes are accessible on WebCT)
 

Dr. Susan Van Patten

Associate Professor.  B.S. (Forestry), Utah State University; M.S. (Recreation Resources Management), Utah State University; and Ph.D. (Leisure Studies) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Academic interests: Media images of place, movie induced tourism, childhood play, sense of place, and recreation conflict. Acting Core Curriculum Director for Radford University. Executive editor and co-founder of the Journal of Unconventional Parks, Tourism & Recreation Research (JUPTRR). Serves on the Foundation Board of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society. Office: 141 Waldron Hall, (540) 831-7644.

RCPT 413 Professional Issues
RCPT 336 Research and Technology Applications
 

Dr. Mark Wagstaff

Professor. B.S. and M.S. (Recreation Resources Administration), North Carolina State University; and Ed.D. (Higher Education & College Teaching with emphasis in community counseling), Oklahoma State University.  Academic interests:  Outdoor leadership development, curriculum development, and outdoor education. Has co-authored one text book and two curriculum guides on teaching outdoor leadership and adventure sports. Conducts and publishes research in the area of challenge course leadership and facilitation. Founded the RCPT experiential learning lab -- RU Adventure Based Learning Experience (RU ABLE).  Office: 139 Waldron Hall, (540) 831-7724.

RCPT 210 Introduction to Recreation, Parks & Tourism
RCPT 314 Recreation Workshop
RCPT 317 Adventure Programming
RCPT 421 Ropes Course Programming
 

ADJUNCT FACULTY & SYLLABI
 

Mr. Kevin Costello

Tourism Coordinator, Botetourt County.
B.S. (Travel Management), Rochester Institute of Technology; and M.S. (Tourism Management), University of Tennessee.

Therapeutic Recreation Programmer, Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
B.S. (Psychology), State University of New York at Oneonta; and M.S. (Therapeutic Recreation), State University of New York at Cortland.

Mr. Arthur (Art) G. Price, Jr., CPRP

Director of Town of Christiansburg Parks and Recreation.  B.S. (Recreation and Leisure Services), Radford University; and M.A. (Recreation and Leisure Services), Radford University.  Professional experience: Louisa County Parks and Recreation (July 1981-April 1983) and Christiansburg Parks and Recreation (April 1983-Present). Other experience: Associate Scout for Kansas City Royals (2004-2006). Leisure interests: family (including two beagles), baseball, and travel. Office: Christiansburg Recreation Center, 1600 North Franklin Street, Christiansburg, (540) 382-2349.

RCPT 210-02 Introduction to Recreation, Parks & Tourism
 

Mr. Donnie G. Turner

Director of Carroll County Tourism.  B.A. (Recreation, Philosophy and Religion), Berea College; and M.S. (Leisure Services), Radford University. 

(Classes accessible on WebCT)