Shan Shan Ho

Dr. Shan Shan Ho is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of General Education at Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, with a focus on experiential and outdoor education. She holds a Ph.D. in Civil Education and Leadership from National Taiwan Normal University and an M.S. in Management of Technology from Murray State University. Her academic work bridges higher education, therapeutic adventure, and leadership development.

• Ph.D., Civil Education and Leadership, National Taiwan Normal University, 2017
• M.S., Management of Technology, Murray State University, 2001

Dr. Ho’s research and teaching are centered on Experiential Learning, Adventure Therapy, and Outdoor Leadership, emphasizing personal growth, self-concept, and therapeutic outcomes through adventure-based activities. Influenced by John Dewey’s progressive education, she designs student-centered curricula that integrate metaphorical thinking and real-world challenges. Her work particularly supports diverse learners through culturally responsive and inclusive Hyflex teaching methods.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in narrative and qualitative inquiry into extreme sports and alternative therapies. Her research explores how activities like surfing, backpacking, and equine interaction foster self-identity, mental well-being, and personal awareness. These studies reflect interdisciplinary engagement across education, psychology, and outdoor recreation.

Her scientific recognition includes the Taiwanese government fellowship in 2014, which supported her international research at the University of New Hampshire’s Outdoor Education Program in the Department of Kinesiology.

Dr. Ho has served as a student adviser and instructor for over a decade, designing leadership programs involving hiking, climbing, kayaking, and ropes courses. Though no formal grants are listed, her program development and therapeutic camp facilitation suggest active engagement in applied educational projects. She emphasizes collaborative learning, critical thinking, and cultural competency in her pedagogy.

She has contributed to professional development through presentations such as 'Broad Sky off the Comfort-Zone: An Exploratory of Adventure Education Programming on Student Clubs' in Taipei, 2010. No dedicated lab or research team is mentioned, but her work is deeply integrated into student organizations and outdoor programming.