Emily Yeager

Emily Yeager is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation Sciences at East Carolina University's College of Health and Human Performance. Her work bridges sustainable tourism development, rural community resilience, and environmental stewardship.

Education:

• B.S. in Geology, East Carolina University
• M.S. in Sustainable Tourism, East Carolina University
• Ph.D. in Tourism & Community Development, University of Georgia

Research Focus:

• Sustainable tourism systems in urban and rural areas
• Peer-to-peer accommodations and their socio-economic impacts
• Climate adaptation strategies for coastal tourism
• Blue economy development through mariculture and recreation
• Place attachment measurement in tourism contexts
• Transformative education pedagogies in tourism

Article Trends: Recent works analyze short-term rentals, peer-to-peer platforms, and blue economy initiatives. Her 2023 article in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism explores urban tourism disruptions, while 2021 studies focus on place attachment scales and identity frameworks.

Scientific Awards:

• 2024: City of Greenville Stewardship Award
• 2024: ECU Innovator of the Month
• 2023: State Department Young Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative
• 2021-2024: Multiple ECU faculty leadership and diversity awards

Grants & Service: Principal investigator on NSF, National Park Service, and state agency grants (2018–2025). Serves on editorial boards and review panels for journals like Travel Research and Sustainable Tourism. Coordinated asset mapping workshops and blue economy corridor developments.