معرفی
Dr. Jordan Smith is a Full Professor and Director of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University's S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources. With over $6 million in competitive external funding, he leads interdisciplinary teams shaping land management decisions across 34 million acres of public lands in the Intermountain West. His work bridges econometric modeling, geospatial analytics, and social-ecological systems theory to address climate resilience, recreation demand, and resource governance.
- PhD in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from NC State University (2011)
- MS in Recreation Resources Management from Utah State University (2008)
- Graduate Certificate in GIS from NC State University (2011)
His research focuses on:
- Climate change impacts on recreation and tourism
- Geospatial analysis of public land visitation
- Social capital and community resilience
- Outdoor recreation economic valuation
Recent publications highlight his work on:
- Developing data-driven models for recreation classification
- Analyzing climate adaptation strategies in tourism
- Quantifying carbon reduction approaches in national parks
- Mapping visitor behavior through social media analytics
- Assessing socio-spatial climate adaptation factors
Awards and honors include:
- 2025 Faculty Researcher of the Year at Utah State University
- DISCCRS VII Symposium Scholar (2012)
- CESU Network Fellowship (2010)
- Multiple NRPA and NC State scholarships
As a graduate student mentor, he has guided 15+ students in Environment & Society programs, with mentees like Ahamed Zakaria, Maizy Troxell, and Chase Lamborn. His extension work includes founding the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperatives and leading the GNAR Initiative for gateway community development.
