Faculty and Staff Profile

Brett A Wright

Educational Background

Ph.D. Recreation Resources Development
Texas A&M University 1985

M.A. Adult Education
Morehead State University 1976

B.A. Outdoor Recreation
Morehead State University 1975

Profile

Dr. Brett Wright is Professor and Dean Emeritus of Clemson University’s College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences at Clemson University. He is former Chairman, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Currently, he serves as Special Assistant to the Provost as Director, Tigers United University Consortium, and the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute. Dr. Wright teaches and supervises students in the graduate program.

Research Interests

Over 3+ decades, Dr. Wright’s research has focused on applying behavioral science research to problems associated with the management of park and environmental resources. He has published on the human dimensions of natural resources management in national and international journals and has conducted behavioral science research for the U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, state fish and wildlife agencies, and local park and recreation organizations. In recent years, he has worked internationally in Africa and Asia, completing research on illegal behaviors related to parks and wildlife, and household livelihoods of indigenous peoples living adjacent to parks. His most recent study involved community-based tourism enterprises and their impacts on conservation of endangered mountain gorillas in the Greater Virunga Transboundary Landscape in Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo. In 2017, he was appointed Director of the Tigers United University Consortium, a 4-university collaborative to support the Global Tiger Recovery Program. In that capacity, he is leading teams of faculty from Clemson, Auburn, LSU and Missouri -- all tiger-mascot schools -- in initiatives aimed at reversing the decline in the number of tigers in the wild.

Research Publications

Dustin, D., Beck, L., Wright, B., Lamke, G., & Murphy, J, and McDonald, C. (2021) The Role of Public Parks in Telling the Nation’s Story. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. Vol. 39 (1):143-154. DOI:10.18666/JPRA-2021-10748.

Dustin, D., McDonald, C., Wright, B., Harper, J., Lamke, G., & Murphy, J. (2020) An Ounce of Prevention. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. DOI:10.18666/JPRA-2020-10675.

Dustin, D, Murphy, J., McDonald, C, Wright, B., Harper, J. and Lamke, G. (2020). Team of Rivals: Turning Academic Rivals into Academic Teammates. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. DOI: 10.18666/JPRA-2020-10488.

Dustin, D., Lamke, G., Murphy, J. and McDonald, C. Wright, B and Harper, J. (2020). Purveyors of One Health: The Ecological Imperative Driving the Future. Leisure Sciences. Vol. 43 (1-2): 12-16. DOI: 10.1080/01490400.2020.1773976.

Depper, G., Wright, B., Mobley, C. and Powell, R. (2020). “Intentionally and Unintentionally Transmitting Environmental Values to Young Adults: Perceptions of Influential Agents.” Environment and Behavior. (submitted for review).

Sabuhoro, E., Wright, B., Powell, R, Hallo, J, Layton, P. and Munanura, I. (2020). “Perceptions and Behaviors of Indigenous Populations Regarding Illegal Use of Park Resources in the Greater Virunga Transboundary Landscape.” Environmental Management. DOI: 10.1007/s00267-020-01254-z.

Dustin, D., McDonald, C., Wright, B., Harper, J., Lamke, G., and Murphy, J. (2019). “The Promise of a Park, Recreation and Tourism Education in a Participatory Democracy.” Journal of Leisure Research. DOI: 10.1080/00222216.2019.1619111.


Sabuhoro, E., Wright, B., Powell, R, Hallo, J, and Layton, P. (2019). “Perceptions and Behaviors of Indigenous Populations Regarding Illegal Use of Park Resources in the Greater Virunga Transboundary Landscape.” Environmental Management. (submitted for review).

Dustin, D., McDonald, C., Wright, B., Harper, J., Lamke, G., and Murphy, J. (2019). “The Promise of a Park, Recreation and Tourism Education in a Participatory Democracy.” Journal of Leisure Research. DOI: 10.1080/00222216.2019.1619111.

Dustin, D., Wright, B., Harper, J., Lamke, G., Murphy, J. and McDonald, C. (2019). Travel Hopefully: The obvious and not so obvious dividends from professional investments. Schole: Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education. DOI: 10.1080/1937156X.2019.1589812.

Powell, R. Vezeau, S., Stern, M., Moore, D. and Wright, B. (2018). Does interpretation influence elaboration and environmental behaviors? Environmental Education Research. DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2017.1339302 Vol. 24 (6): 875-888.

Powell, R., Depper, G., and Wright, B. (2017). Interpretation training needs in the 21st Century: A needs assessment of interpreters in the National Park Service. Journal of Interpretation Research. Vol. 22(2):19-34.

Wright, B., Schwab, K. and Dustin, D. (2017). Whatever happened to child’s play? Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education. Vol. 32 (1):17-25.

Dustin, D., McDonald, C., Wright, B., Harper, J., Lamke, G. and Murphy, J. (2017). Crossing the Rubicon: The Responsibility of Professors and Park and Recreation Professionals in Public Discourse. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. Vol. 35(2): p. 1-8.

Powell, R. B., Vezeau, S.L.*, Stern, M.J., Moore, D.D., & Wright, B.A. (2017) Does elaboration influence environmental behaviors? Journal of Environmental Education Research. DOI:10.1080/13504622.2017.1339302 Vol. 23 (1) p. 1-14.

Sabuhoro, E., Wright, B., Munanura, I., Nyakabwa, I., & Nibigira, C. (2017). The Potential of Ecotourism Opportunities to Generate Support for Mountain Gorilla Conservation among Local Communities Neighboring Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Journal of Ecotourism. DOI: 10.1080/14724049.2017.1280043.

Depper, G., Vigil, D., Powell, R. & Wright, B. (2016). Resource Protection, Visitor Safety and Employee Safety: How Prepared is the National Park Service? Park Science. Vol. 32 (2) p. 18-24.

Vezeau, S., Powell, R., Stern M., Moore, D. and Wright, B. (2015). Development and Validation of Two Scales to Measure Elaboration and Behaviors Associated with Stewardship in Children. Environmental Education Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504622.1121377.

Dustin, D., Lamke, G. Murphy, J., McDonald, C., Wright, B., & Harper, J. (2015). Ruminations on the Academic Afterlife. Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education. 2015, Vol. 30 p. 43-52.

Brownlee, M. T. J., Hallo, J. C., Jodice, L. W., Moore, D. D., Powell, R. B., & Wright, B. A. (2015). Place Attachment and Marine Recreationists’ Attitudes Towards Offshore Wind Energy Development. Journal of Leisure Research. 47(2):263-284.

Dustin, D., Murphy, J., McDonald, C., Wright, B., Harper, J. & Lamke, G. (2014). Academic Moneyball.
Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education. 2014, Vol. 29, p. 43-52.

Vagias, W, Powell, R.B., Moore, D.D. and Wright, B.A. (2014). Predicting Behavioral Intentions to Comply with Recommended Leave No Trace Practices. Leisure Sciences. 38(5): 1-19.

Brownlee, M. T. J., Hallo, J. C., Moore, D. D., Powell, R. B., & Wright, B. A. (2014). Lake Recreationists’ Attitudes Towards Water Conservation: The Influence of Place Attachment, Awareness of Drought Impacts, and Beliefs in Climate Change. Society & Natural Resources. 27(9):964-982.

Brownlee, M. T. J., Hallo, J. C., Moore, D. D., Powell, R. B., & Wright, B. A. (2013). Visiting a Climate-influenced National Park: The Stability of Climate Change Perceptions. Environmental Management. 52(5):1132-1148.

Weddell, M.J., Fedorchack, R. and Wright, B.A. (2013). Improving National Park Service Partnerships: A Gap Analysis of External Partners. Park Science. 29(2):13-17.

Vagias, W, Powell, R.B., Moore, D.D. and Wright, B.A. (2012). Development, Psychometric Qualities, and Cross-Validation of the Leave No Trace Inventory and Measure (LMT AIM). Journal of Leisure Research. 44(2):234-256.

Powell, R.B., B.A. Wright, J. Draper and J. Thomsen. (2011). Evaluation of Off-highway Vehicle Skills and Ethics Training Programs Occurring on Public Lands: The TreadLightly! Visitor Education Program. Washington, DC: National Park Service. MBM#1024-0224. 134 pgs.

Weddell, M.S., Fedorchak, R. and Wright, B .A. (2009). Partnership Behaviors, Motivations, Constraints, and Training Needs Among NPS Employees. Park Science. 26 (2):87-91

Machnik, L.K., Hammitt, W.E., Rodgers, E.B.D., and Wright, B. A. (2008). Planning for Workforce Succession among National Park Service Advanced-Level Natural Resource Program Managers: A Gap Analysis. Society and Natural Resources. 21(1):50-62.

Honors and Awards

Dean Emeritus, College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University, 2018
Fellow, American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration, 2008-present
President, National Society for Park Resources, 2004-2006
Associate Editor, Leisure Sciences, 2004-2010
William Penn Mott, Jr. Award for Excellence, National Society for Park Resources, 2006.
Leslie M. Reid Alumni Award, Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2001.
Meritorious Service Award, National Association for Interpretation, 1994