Myron F. Floyd

Dr. Myron F. Floyd is Dean of the College of Natural Resources at NC State University. With over 35 years of academic experience, he has held faculty roles at Clemson University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Florida before joining NC State in 2005 as a Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

• PhD in Recreation and Resources Development, Texas A&M University
• MS in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University
• MS in Recreation and Park Administration, Clemson University
• BS in Recreation and Park Administration, Clemson University

His research focuses on the intersection of race/ethnicity with leisure behavior, examining how urban green spaces can mitigate health disparities and promote physical activity in marginalized communities. He has pioneered studies on environmental justice, conservation behavior, and crowdsourcing data for health research.

Key grants include $1.5M from DHHS for obesity prevention in NC counties, $435K from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for park-based physical activity studies, and multiple USDA Forest Service/NPS-funded projects. He co-authored the seminal book Race, Ethnicity, and Leisure and has produced 95+ peer-reviewed articles.

• Elected Fellow: Academy of Leisure Sciences (2005), American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (2019)
• Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award (2008)
• Leadership for a Diverse Campus Workshop Series (2014)

Dr. Floyd has served on national advisory councils including USDA's Forestry Research Advisory Council (2014-2017) and NC Institute of Medicine's Healthy NC 2030 Taskforce. His work bridges public health, natural resource management, and social equity through interdisciplinary research.