Faculty and Staff Profile

Kelly Alvidrez

Educational Background

Ph.D. Parks and Conservation Area Management
Clemson University exp. 2026

M.S. Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Clemson University 2022

B.S. Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Arizona State University 2012

Courses Taught

PRTM 3080 - Leadership and Group Processes
PRTM EDGE - Professionalism (guest lectured)
PRTM 1980 - Intro to the Guest Room Attendant (guest lectured)
PRTM 2260 - Foundations of Management and Administration in PRTM (TA)
PRTM 3300 - Visitor Services and Interpretation (TA)
PRTM 2220 - Program and Event Management
PRTM 3500 - Parks Conservation/Development (TA)

Research Interests

My research interest centers on the intersection of park management, community engagement, and the sustainable use of natural spaces. Specifically, I am interested in exploring the challenges and opportunities faced by visitors and communities that surround protected areas. My research has focused on participatory land management and community engagement in conservation landscapes, with particular attention to how land managers, community leaders, and local stakeholders interact in shaping sustainable and equitable governance practices. I am especially interested in how outreach and collaborative governance strategies influence perceptions of public land management, willingness to participate in decision-making, and long-term stewardship outcomes. My work also investigates how population growth and development pressures affect conservation challenges. A key component of my research has involved investigating how parks can foster mutually beneficial relationships with surrounding communities. I aim to understand how community engagement initiatives, participatory decision-making, and public outreach efforts shape public attitudes toward parks and influence responsible use. By evaluating community perspectives, I hope to identify barriers to participation and trust and to identify effective strategies for promoting stewardship among park visitors. Through a combination of quantitative assessments of park usage patterns and qualitative insights from stakeholders, I aspire to develop evidence-based frameworks that guide sustainable management practices. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to the wellness of parks and forests, which serve as resilient ecosystems and inclusive, enjoyable spaces for diverse user groups. This work will help ensure that public lands remain viable, well-protected resources that support both environmental and social well-being.


A key component of my research involves investigating how parks can foster mutually beneficial relationships with surrounding communities. I aim to understand the ways community engagement initiatives, participatory decision-making, and public outreach efforts shape public attitudes toward parks and influence responsible usage patterns. By evaluating community perspectives, I hope to identify barriers to participation and trust, as well as effective strategies for promoting stewardship among park visitors.

Research Publications

Alvidrez, K. (2022). Outreach as Dialogue: Lessons from University Forests. Master’s thesis. All Theses. 3721. Clemson University. https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/3721

Alvidrez, K., Adesawe, E., Bolt, M., Dodge, L., Kahigana, I., Schmidt, A., Smith, C., Lewis, S., & Outley, C. W. (2025). Cultivating the undercommons: A CBPAR graduate course as fugitive practice in the neoliberal academy [Manuscript under review at Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education].

Redmore, L., Davis, J., Sene, A., & Alvidrez, K. (Anticipated 2026). Roots in the Congaree swamp: Narratives of African American relationships to wilderness. In Unsettling Conservation book volume. Edited by Tapuja Chaudhuri and Cameron Butler. [Manuscript under review].

Honors and Awards

2025 Francis A. McGuire Graduate Student Teaching Award
2025 Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Doctoral Student