Henderson Honored for Revolutionizing Leisure Studies Research

 

Dr. Karla Henderson accepts an honorary doctorate from the University of Waterloo in 2011

Karla Henderson poses with (left to right) Prem Watsa, chancellor of the University of Waterloo, and Feridun Hamdullahpur, president of the University of Waterloo.

According to the University of Waterloo in Canada –  Dr. Karla Henderson, a professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management at North Carolina State University,  is widely regarded as the dominant scholar in examining leisure and gender and leisure and people on the margins of society.

Karla Henderson delivers her convocation address at University of Waterloo - Spring 2011This summer, Waterloo awarded Henderson  an honorary doctor of science degree in recognition of her many contributions as scholar, advocate, academic leader and community builder.

During Waterloo’s convocation ceremony, Henderson addressed graduates of the Faculties of Applied Health Sciences and Environment.

Henderson has a lengthy relationship with Waterloo’s recreation and leisure studies department.  A leading researcher – Henderson has published more than a dozen books, four dozen book chapters and about 150 peer-reviewed papers, has held leadership positions in professional organizations and has received numerous prestigious awards for both teaching and research.  She teaches primarily graduate courses in recreation and leisure theory and qualitative research methods in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management at North Carolina State University .

About Waterloo
The University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada’s Technology Triangle, is one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities and is known for the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world, supports enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery.

More About Dr. Henderson

Read the Waterloo Press Release

Graduate Students Present Research at National Hispanic Engineering Conference

Submitted by Grace Williamson

Several outstanding graduate students in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State University were selected to present their research at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) national conference held in Cincinnati in October 2010.  Each student selected received a scholarship covering all their conference expenses including travel.

Adrian Pirraglia presents his research poster at the 2010 Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Conference

Adrian Pirraglia with his winning research poster at the 2010 SHPE

Student research was judged in two separate categories – Graduate Paper and Graduate Poster. Julio C. Arboleda was awarded third place in the Graduate Paper category. Also competing in that category from NC State were Carlos E. Aizpurua, Carlos A. Carrillo, Ingrid Hoeger, Adrian Pirraglia and Carlos Salas.  Adrian Pirraglia was awarded second place in the Graduate Poster category. Guillermo J. Velarde also participated in the graduate poster category.

 The SHPE conference hosts universities nationwide making it very competitive.  
To compete, students must first submit an abstract, or summary, of their paper or poster.  Once approved, students submit a completed paper providing scientific goals, data analysis, research quality and conclusions. Finally, outstanding students present their project to seven judges at the conference who evaluate their presentation and knowledge of their research.

The SHPE Conference attracts over 5,000 engineering professionals, students and corporate representatives each year as the organization works to fulfill their mission to enhance and achieve the potential of Hispanics in engineering, math and science.   

“Educational, technical, and career opportunities are provided at the conference,” says Dr. Daniel Saloni, assistant professor in Forest Biomaterials. “The students participated in a number of workshops on topics related to proposal writing, scientific paper writing,  thesis writing, CV drafting, interviewing, working with advisors, working in teams and more; making it an outstanding opportunity for our students to network, grow and demonstrate the outstanding work they do here at NC State.”   

Faculty members Orlando Rojas and Daniel Saloni mentored the students and coordinated the trip for the Department of Forest Biomaterials.

PhD Candidate Nyeema Harris Awarded Philadelphia Zoo's Emerging Conservation Leader Award

Nyeema Harris holding fox during research projectNyeema Harris, Ph.D. candidate in the Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program at NC State, will be presented with the Emerging Conservation Leader Award at the Philadelphia Zoo Global Conservation Gala on March 18, 2010. Now studying carnivore/parasite population dynamics for her dissertation, Nyeema began her passion for wildlife conservation during an apprenticeship at the zoo.

Read more from the Philadelphia Zoo's website >>

Read the article in the Philadephia Tribune >>

Grant supports recruiting of high quality, diverse park & recreation management graduate students

Challenging curirculum prepares students for exciting careers in park and recreation managementOn November 5, 2009 the NC State University Graduate School announced that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management  Graduate Program received a grant to implement a campaign to recruit outstanding students from under represented populations in the disciplines of park and recreation management.  The department received a grant of $1,400 to assist in developing recruiting materials and to cover travel costs for potential graduate students to meet PRTM faculty and students and tour the campus.  According to the National Recreation and Parks Association, racial and ethnic minorities account for less than 20% of professionals in the recreation and parks field.

All three departments in the NC State University College of Natural Resources are committed to helping make natural resource careers available and welcoming to a diverse population.   Visit the website for the College’s Community for Diversity in Natural Resources to learn what we are doing to increase diversity in all related natural resources disciplines.

Learn more about graduate education in the NC State University Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management.