Colby Parkinson
Assistant Professor
Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources
Education
PhD, Dual-Title in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management & Social Data Analytics, Penn State University (2026)
MSc, Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University (2022)
BA, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, American University (2018)
Background and Expertise
Dr. Colby Parkinson’s research centers on (i) visitor use monitoring techniques and methodology, (ii) the relationship between nature and health, and (iii) emergency management and adaptation in gateway communities and destinations. Colby has extensive fieldwork experience across US federal land management agencies, including Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, and Wrangell–St. Elias National Parks, with expertise across a wide range of data collection methodologies, including intercept and online survey, GPS and mobile device tracking, systematic observation approaches, participatory methods, and semi-structured interviews. Ultimately, Colby is interested in studying the benefits of tourism and recreation areas to people and communities alongside how to improve management of those areas to ensure they provide positive, safe, and sustainable experiences and outcomes.
As an instructor and advisor, Colby is passionate about experiential learning, so he always strives to provide students and advisees with opportunities to get into the field and meet with leading professionals. He aims to ensure all students leave the classroom or his lab with a portfolio or work sample that demonstrates their learning to themselves and future employers. Colby is also working toward growing and advancing the outdoor recreation and tourism industries as a board member of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP).
Colby is recruiting MS students to work in his lab in Fall 2027. Please contact him by email if you are interested.
Selected Publications
View Colby’s publications on his Google Scholar Profile.
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year university with the top research universities in the United States.