Alison K. Murray, PhD 1406 Belk Building [email protected] Greenville, NC 27858 (919) 699-3045
Education
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA PhD in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, 2017 Advisor: Dr. Deborah Kerstetter Concentration: Sustainable and community-based tourism
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC Masters of Science in Sustainable Tourism, 2012 Advisor: Dr. Carol Kline Concentration: Sustainable tourism
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC Bachelors of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, 2010 Concentration: Tourism and Commercial Recreation ______
Additional Education/Certification
Engaged Scholarship Grant Workshops Office for Faculty Excellence, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC March - June, 2017
Student Engagement Outreach Scholars Academy, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC Graduate, March 2011 Completed a research project on environmental perceptions of residents in the Tar River Basin while attending on-campus seminars regarding student research projects and community engagement. ______
Academic Experience
Adjunct Lecturer August 2016 – Present Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, East Carolina University Greenville, NC • Teach RCLS 3120: Commercial Recreation and Tourism – An introductory course focused on commercial recreation and tourism systems at the local, state, national and international levels. o One section: 32 students (on campus)
• Teach RCLS 4120: Recreation, Parks and Tourism Marketing – A senior level marketing course focused on services marketing while providing a hands-on learning opportunity to develop a marketing plan. o One section: 17 students (on campus)
• Teach RCLS 4111: Recreation and Park Planning – A senior level course focused on recreation and tourism planning, the planning process, and benefits of creating a comprehensive, inclusive plan. o One section: 25 students (on campus)
• Teach RCLS 2601: Leisure in Society – An introductory course on leisure from historical, socio-cultural, and individual perspectives. o One section: 35 students (online)
Previous Semesters: • Taught RCLS 2601: Leisure in Society o Two on campus sections ranging from 50-110 students each o Two online sections with 45 students each
• Taught RCLS 3120: Commercial Recreation and Tourism – An introductory course focused on commercial recreation and tourism systems at the local, state, national and international levels. o One section: 21 students (on campus)
• Taught RCLS 4000: Evaluation and Research in RCLS – A senior level course designed to facilitate understanding and application of research, needs assessments, and evaluation techniques in recreational therapy and recreation and park management. o One section: 16 students (online – 5-week summer session)
• Taught RCLS 4004: Philosophical & Theoretical Issues in Leisure – A senior level course focused on teaching students how to explain why and what they do in their specific area of RCLS specialization (i.e., recreation program design, program delivery, and program evaluation). o One section: 11 students (online – 5-week summer session)
Instructor August 2014 – May 2016 Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • Taught RPTM 300Y: Tourism and Leisure Behavior - An introductory course on the tourism system at the local, state, national and international levels. o One section: 45 students (on campus – writing intensive)
• Taught a one-credit independent study course to supplement RPTM 497C: Great Smoky Mountains Outdoor Recreation Consortium. This course focused on gateway communities, sustainability, and place attachment.
• Taught a one-credit independent study course on stakeholder theory and resident stakeholder participation in tourism development.
Research Assistant August 2012 – May 2016 Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • Involved in various research projects ranging from a systematic review of ecotourism theses/dissertations to the culture of tailgating to outcomes of study abroad experiences.
Teaching Assistant August 2013 – May 2015 Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • From January to May 2014 and 2015 assisted in the instruction, grading, and logistics associated with RPTM 497C: Great Smoky Mountains Outdoor Recreation Consortium, a course that examined the impacts of visitors on parks as well as other aspects of park and natural resource management.
• From August 2013 to May 2014 assisted in the instruction of RPTM 300Y: Leisure and Tourism Behavior and RPTM 236: Leaderships and Group Dynamics in Recreation.
Graduate Assistant January 2011 - July 2012 Center for Sustainable Tourism, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC • Assisted with the Visitor Study Pilot Program by testing a new method for developing a visitor profile in small communities in North Carolina. Also worked on a variety of research projects including collaborations with the Race, Ethnicity and Social Equity through Tourism (RESET) Initiative, the Pamlico Tar River Foundation, and other community-based tourism research initiatives. ______
International Academic Experience
Study Abroad Coordinator July 2017 – June 2018 Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC • Coordinate with American Universities International Program (AUIP) and the Office of Global Affairs at ECU to plan, and promote RCLS 4123: Study Abroad in International Sustainability - study abroad course to New Zealand and Australia.
Study Abroad Instructor August 2014 – May 2015 Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • Participated in the promotion, pre-departure instruction, grading, and logistics associated with RPTM 297D: Sustainable Tourism and the Environment—study abroad course to New Zealand and Australia.
Study Abroad Teaching Assistant August 2013 – May 2014 Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • Assisted in the promotion and pre-departure instruction of RPTM 297D: Sustainable Tourism and the Environment, a study abroad course to Australia (2013) and Fiji (2014). ______
Professional Experience
Sport Marketing Assistant November 2016 – Present Raleigh Flyers, Raleigh, NC • Assist with marketing and promotion of an up and coming professional ultimate Frisbee team in North Carolina. Network with other minor league marketing professionals to understand how to best promote the program.
College Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Coach August 2016 – Present East Carolina University, Greenville, NC • Lead and mentor a competitive, college level women’s ultimate frisbee team. Organize practices, create workouts, and travel the east coast to competitive tournaments.
College Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Coach February 2013 – May 2015 The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • Lead and mentored a competitive, college level women’s ultimate frisbee team. Organized practices, created workouts, and traveled the east coast to competitive tournaments.
North Carolina Mixed Sectional Coordinator May 2011 – October 2012 USA Ultimate (USAU), Boulder, CO • Developed and implemented a 10-team, qualifying tournament in Greenville, North Carolina in accordance with USAU’s rules and regulations regarding league dues, waivers, and roster limits. Kept the Regional and National Coordinators informed about the size and location of the tournament and qualifying teams.
Atlantic Coast College Women’s Regional Coordinator August 2009 – July 2010 USAU, Boulder, CO • Acted as a liaison between Sectional Coordinators and the National Coordinator to develop a qualifying 16-team tournament while maintaining records of participant waivers, league dues, and college eligibility according to USAU’s collegiate guidelines of college play.
Student Director of Club Sports July 2009 – May 2010 Campus Recreation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC • Organized on-campus events and managed an eight-person staff for all club sport organizations on campus while maintaining records of participant waivers, liability information and financial documents.
St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation Summer Intern May 2009 – September 2009 Hayti Heritage Center, Durham, NC • Assisted with the development and implementation of the Bull Durham Blues Festival, including the Blues in the Schools program and the Kid Zone. ______
Research Interests
Sustainable Tourism Community-Based Tourism Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship Tourism Policy Community Development Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ______
Refereed Publications
Pitas, N., Hickerson, B., Murray, A., & Newton, J. (2018). Repositioning Undergraduate Education in Recreation and Leisure Studies. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 33(1), 1-11.
Bricker, K., Kerstetter, D., Murray, A., Blair, J., & Gatti, E. (in press). A systematic review of theses and dissertations focused on sustainable- and eco-tourism: 1990 to 2014. Journal of Ecotourism.
Robinson, P. & Murray, A. (2017). Rural enterprise business development in the developed world. In A. Oriade & P. Robinson (Eds.), Practical Rural Tourism and Enterprise: Management, Marketing and Sustainability. Oxfordshire, England: CABI.
Pitas, N. A., Murray, A., Olsen, M., & Graefe, A. (2017). A modified importance-performance framework for evaluating recreation-based experiential learning programs. Journal of Extension, 55(1).
Murray, A. & Kline, C. (2015). Rural tourism and the craft beer experience: Factors influencing brand loyalty in rural North Carolina, USA. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(8-9), 1-19.
Deale, C. S., Barber, N., Murray, A., & Cashion, M. (2012). Tourism, non-profit organizations, and environmental attitudes and behaviors: A pilot study of perceptions of residents of a river basin. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 17(1), 47-65. ______
Manuscripts Under Review
Murray, A., Viren, P., & Beckmann, C. A Benefits-based management approach to adventure travel. Submitted to Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, September 2017. ______
Manuscripts in Progress
Murray, A. & Kerstetter, D. Economic, environmental, and social change related to amenity migration in a rural, West Virginia community. To be submitted to Journal of Rural Sociology, January 2018.
Murray, A. & Kerstetter, D. Social interactions and attitudes towards tourism development in a rural area. To be submitted to Journal of Travel Research, January 2018.
Murray, A., Blair, J., Luloff, A. E., Bridger, J. & Graefe, A. Re-assessing rural tourism efforts in the United States – A 20-year update. To be submitted to Annals of Tourism Research, June 2018. ______
Conference Presentations
Easter, K., Murray, A., & Viren, P. On the Road Again: Underrepresented Populations in Tourism Marketing. State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (faculty mentor). Buies Creek, NC, October, 2017
Murray, A., & Viren, P. A benefits based management approach to adventure travel. National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium, Annapolis, MD, April 2017.
Murray, A., & Kerstetter, D. Assessing resident attitudes toward tourism development: An interactional approach. Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium, Annapolis, MD, April 2016.
Murray, A., Pitas, N., & Olsen, M. Using an expectations, importance, performance analysis to assess learning outcomes of an experiential education course. Southeastern Recreation Research Conference, Asheville, NC, March 2016.
Murray, A., Pitas, N., & Graefe, A. Incorporating a research agenda with experiential learning course: Lessons learned. Academy of Leisure Sciences Teaching Institute, Greenville, NC, February 2016.
Murray, A., & Viren, P. Brewing economic development: The role of microenterprise in revitalizing rural communities. Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference: North America, Tampa, FL, January 2016.
Murray, A., Blair, J., Luloff, A. E., Bridger, J. & Graefe, A. Re-assessing rural tourism efforts in the United States – A 20-Year update. 21st International Symposium on Society and Research Management, Charleston, SC, June 2015. (Juried)
Bricker, K., Kerstetter, D., Murray, A., & Blair, J. A systemic review of theses and dissertations on sustainable- or eco-tourism from 1990-2014. The International Ecotourism Society Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference, Quito, Ecuador, April 2015. (Juried)
Murray, A. Looking beyond brochures: Opportunities in public-private partnerships at tourism sites. 2015 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium, Annapolis, MD, April 2015.
Blair, J., & Murray, A. Recreational users' perceptions of tourism development impacts in a marine protected area. 2015 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium, Annapolis, MD, April 2015.
Murray, A., & Ferguson, M. Outcomes of engaged scholarship and outdoor education in an outdoor recreation setting. 2014 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium, Cooperstown, NY, April 2014.
Schneider, P., & Murray, A. Sustainable tourism development through regional collaboration: North Carolina’s Roanoke River Valley Region. 2013 National Extension Tourism Conference, Detroit, MI, August 2013. (Juried)
Murray, A., & Kerstetter, D. Microbreweries as a tourism growth pole for rural communities: The case of Kinston, North Carolina. 2013 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium, Cooperstown, NY, April 2013.
Mowen, A., Graefe, A., Graefe, D., Murray, A., Ferguson, M., & Olcott, K. Craft breweries and beer enthusiasts: An emerging trend with implications for outdoor recreation. 2013 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium, Cooperstown, NY, April 2013.
Stansfield, M., & Murray, A. Tailgating: Re-creating the Penn State experience through heritage tourism. Twenty-eighth Annual Graduate Exhibition, University Park, PA, March 2013. *Won first place in the social sciences category.
Stansfield, M., Kerstetter, D., Murray, A., & Shavahli, M. Tailgating: Re-creating the Penn State experience through heritage tourism. College of Health and Human Development Research Forum, University Park, PA, March 2013.
Murray, A., & Kline, C. Factors influencing brand loyalty to microbreweries in North Carolina. Travel and Tourism Research Association, Virginia Beach, VA, June 2012. (Juried)
Murray, A., & Kline, C. Factors influencing brand loyalty to microbreweries in North Carolina. Research and Creative Achievement Week, East Carolina University, April 2012.
Murray, A., Mullen, C., Kennedy, R., & Alderman, D. Navigating the terrain of discrimination: Mapping the Green Book and African American tourism during Jim Crow. 2011 South Eastern Division of the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA, November 2011. (Juried) ______
Invited Presentations
Panelist October, 2017 2017 Travel and Tourism Round Table, Business North Carolina Magazine • Participated in a round table discussion with Wit Tuttell (Executive Director of Visit North Carolina) and other industry executives regarding tourism’s impact on North Carolina. ______
Service to the Community
Reviewer 2017 Journal of Business Ethics Education
Reviewer 2016, 2017 Journal of Park and Recreation Administration
Chapter Reviewer 2016 Craft Beverages and Tourism, Volume 1 - The Rise of Breweries and Distilleries in the United States
Reviewer 2014 Current Issues in Tourism ______
Research Projects and Reports
Re-Assessing Rural Tourism Efforts – A 20-year Update 2017 Investigators: A. Murray, J. Blair, A. E. Luloff, J. Bridger, & A. Graefe • Re-assessed efforts being put forth by state tourism offices based on a 1994 study conducted by Luloff, Bridger, & Graefe.
Defining Adventure Travel – A 10-year Update 2016 Investigators: P. Viren & A. Murray • Implemented a survey to subscribers of Outside Magazine regarding the definition, characteristics and benefits of adventure travel. Using qualitative and quantitative techniques, analyzed and reported the 2,000 responses in a technical report for Adventure Travel and Trade Association.
Understanding the Benefits of an Outdoor Recreation Consortium 2015 Investigators: A. Murray, N. Pitas, M. Olsen, & J. Blair • Conducted an expectations, importance, performance analysis (pre and post test) of student experiences during a week-long outdoor recreation, experimental education course.
Sustainable Tourism Systematic Review 2015 Investigators: K. Bricker, D. Kerstetter, A. Murray, J. Blair, & E. Gatti • Conducted a systematic review to understand trends in sustainable tourism and ecotourism topics within published theses and dissertations between 1990-2014.
Tailgating as Sport Tourism and Community Development 2012 Investigators: A. Murray, M. Shahvali, J. Gao, M. Stansfield, L. Xue, & D. Kerstetter • Collected data at Penn State University football tailgates regarding motivations for tailgating and support for the team after a major traumatic event.
Sustainable Tourism Evaluation and Recommendation Report 2012 Investigators: A. Murray and other students • Developed report for the Policy and Planning for Sustainable Tourism course and the Center for Sustainable Tourism at East Carolina University. Submitted to the Charlotte Regional Visitor’s Authority, Charlotte, NC, April 2012.
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park Sustainable Tourism Plan 2012 Investigators: A. Murray and others • Prepared for the Policy and Planning for Sustainable Tourism course and the Center for Sustainable Tourism at East Carolina University. Submitted to Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park Project Steering Committee, Wilson Visitors Center, City of Wilson, Wilson Downtown Properties, and the citizens of Wilson County, Wilson, NC.
Animal Welfare Approved 2011 Animal Products Survey Results 2012 Investigators: C. Kline, A. Murray, & E. Lancaster • Collected and analyzed data regarding meat purchasing behavior, willingness to pay, and preferences when picking different. Submitted to Animal Welfare Approved, Pittsboro, NC.
The Brothers Vilgalys Spirits Company Marketing Plan 2012 Investigators: A. Murray, E. Green, W. Winslow, G. Ziegler, H. Winslow • Developed a comprehensive marketing plan for The Brothers Vilgalys Spirits Company in Durham, NC after researching brands and sustainability marketing efforts used by other companies. ______
Scholarships
2016 Southeastern Recreation Research Symposium Graduate Student Scholarship.
College of Health and Human Development Endowment Funds for Dissertation Research
2015 Dr. Herberta Lundegren Graduate Student Scholarship ______
Involvement in Professional Organizations
Member April 2017 – Present National Environment and Recreation Research Association
Student Member August 2016 – Present National Recreation and Park Association
Student Member February 2016 – Present The Academy of Leisure Sciences
Conference Organizer January 2016 – May 2016 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium • Assisted with the organization of session categories and presentation schedule
Student Member January 2014 – May 2016 Student Organization of Society and Natural Resources, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • President, May 2014 – December 2015
Student Member August 2008 – May 2017 The International Ecotourism Society
Student Member August 2012 – May 2017 Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management Graduate Student Society, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • Vice President, August 2013 – August, 2014
Student Member August 2012 – May 2017 Travel and Tourism Graduate Student Society, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA • Treasurer, January 2015 – January 2016
Student Member January 2011 – April 2012 Students for Sustainable Tourism, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC • President, August 2011 – April 2012
Member July 2011 – August 2012 Destination Marketing Association, North Carolina Young Professionals
Council Member August 2008 – May 2010 Club Sports Council, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC