Faculty and Staff Profile

Hsuan Hsieh

Educational Background

2018 National Taiwan University M.Sc. Forestry

2016 National Chung-Hsing University B.Sc. Forestry

Courses Taught

2025 Fall Leisure Skills Class 1000, Clemson University – “Relaxation in Nature.”

2025 Spring Leisure Skills Class 1000, Clemson University – “Relaxation in Nature.”

2024 Fall Leisure Skills Class 1000, Clemson University – “Relaxation in Nature.”

2023 Guest lecturer, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM), Clemson University– “Introduction to Forest Therapy in Taiwan.”

2022 Guest lecturer, Department of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University – “Introduction to Forest Therapy Activity Design.”

2021-2022 Guest lecturer, Department of International Tourism Management, Tamkang University – “Introduction to Forest Therapy and Activity Design.”

Profile

Hsuan Hsieh is a third-year Ph.D. student in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University. Her research centers on forest therapy and nature and health, with a focus on enhancing student well-being, social connectedness, and pro-environmental attitudes. She teaches Clemson’s one-credit Leisure Skills course Relaxation in Nature, a forest therapy class that introduces students to guided sensory immersion, outdoor activities, and reflective journaling. Hsuan is the Principal Investigator of the Green Safety Net of Nature Rx project, supported by a $10,000 REI Cooperative Action Fund grant, which advances Campus Nature Rx initiatives and integrates nature engagement into campus wellness strategies. She also contributes to visitor use research with the Park Solutions Lab, informing recreation management at Joshua Tree National Park. A certified forest therapy guide in both Taiwan and the U.S., Hsuan has led over 100 guided sessions worldwide. She actively bridges practice and research, sharing her work at international conferences and engaging with professional organizations such as the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) and the Taiwan Forest Therapy Society.

Research Interests

• Forest Therapy / Forest Bathing:
Examining the multifaceted health benefits of forest therapy/forest bathing—including physiological, psychological, cognitive, and social outcomes—across diverse populations.

• Nature-Based Interventions:
Designing, implementing, and evaluating innovative nature-based therapeutic programs in higher education and community settings.

Research Publications

Yu, C. P. S., & Hsieh, H. (2020). Beyond restorative benefits: Evaluating the effect of forest therapy on creativity. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 51, 126670.

Honors and Awards

2025 Best Presentation Award, 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
• Recognized for outstanding presentation: “Evaluating Forest Therapy and Mindfulness Practices in Higher Education: Impacts on College Student Well-Being”

2025 3rd Place, iGRADS Research Communication Competition (Finals), Clemson University Graduate Student Government
• Awarded for video presentation: “Campus Nature Rx: Unlocking Student Well-Being Through Forest Therapy Leisure Skills Class”

2025 Graduate Travel Grant (GTG) Recipient, Clemson University Graduate Student Government
• the 2025 Nature and Health Conference, TX, USA
• the 10th International Adventure Therapy Conference, Hualien, Taiwan
• the 2nd International Conference on Forest Therapy, Vancouver, Canada

2024 Grant Recipient, REI Cooperative Action Fund: Centering Health Outside
• Project: "Green Safety Net of Nature Rx: Enhancing Health in College Students through Forest Therapy at The Park Solutions Lab"; Amount: $10,000; Grant Term: May 31, 2024 – May 31, 2026

2024 National Outdoor Recreation Conference (NORC) Student Scholarship Recipient, Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP)

2024 Southeast Environment and Recreation Research Conference (SERR) Poster Awardee
• Awarded as one of the top 3 posters in the graduate student category

2023 Graduate Travel Grant (GTG), Clemson University Graduate Student Government
• Awarded travel grant to attend the National Outdoor Recreation Conference 2024

2019 Outstanding Research Paper Award, The Outdoor Recreation Association of R.O.C
• Awarded as one of the top 3 master's theses in the field of outdoor recreation

2017 NSTC-DAAD Summer Institute Program
• Fully-funded scholarship recipient, National Science and Technology Council - NSTC, German Academic Exchange Service - DAAD
• Conducted two-month field research on ecovillages in Germany, including interviews with 37 respondents on the relationship between health and nature

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