Mechelle Best

Mechelle Best, Ph.D., serves as Dean of the College of Health and Human Development at California State University Northridge, overseeing nine departments, nine chartered centers, and the Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing with responsibility for over 300 faculty and 60 staff. Previously, she was Professor and Chair of Recreation and Tourism Management at CSUN, leveraging 20+ years in academia and 30+ years of Caribbean/U.S. tourism industry leadership.

Her educational credentials include a doctorate in tourism from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and a Master of Science in Natural Resource Management from the University of the West Indies.

Research centers on cultural heritage tourism, natural resource sustainability, and Caribbean tourism development with specific focus on slavery heritage intersections. Additional work examines outdoor experiences for people of African descent in the United States, reflecting her commitment to diversity and inclusion in recreation spaces.

Publications like the co-authored 2015 book 'Contemporary Caribbean Tourism: Concepts and Cases' establish foundational work in sustainable Caribbean tourism, emphasizing heritage preservation and community-based resource management trends.

• Fulbright/OAS Scholar for the Eastern Caribbean

Dean Best champions inclusive excellence through CSUN's Provost’s Council and CSU Health and Human Services Deans’ Alliance, while serving on external boards including The University Corporation, California Travel Association, and Premier America Credit Union. She delivered the 2023 CSUN Black Graduation keynote 'Brilliance: Black, Powerful & Unapologetic', advancing her mission of student success through diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice frameworks.