Nicole Webster

Nicole Webster, Ph.D., serves as the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the College of Health and Human Development (HHD) at Pennsylvania State University, alongside her role as Professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. Her work focuses on fostering inclusive academic environments and advancing DEI initiatives across faculty and student populations.

Her professional background spans over two decades in interdisciplinary research, particularly in global youth development, community engagement, and the intersection of parks/recreation with social justice. She has led projects in the Global South addressing agricultural sustainability, civic education, and marginalized communities’ resilience.

Research Interests:

• Equitable park access and racial environmental justice
• Service-learning pedagogy and global education ethics
• Youth civic engagement and democracy
• Decolonizing academic practices
• Intersectionality in outdoor recreation

Her recent publications analyze structural barriers to park equity, anti-racist frameworks in academia, and the transformative potential of urban parks in fostering intergroup trust. She also critiques global service-learning programs through a postcolonial lens.

Labs/Teams: Oversees HHD’s Office for DEI and Faculty Affairs, collaborating with research centers focused on prevention science and health equity.