Dr. Elizabeth Perry

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Elizabeth 'Bess' Perry is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University. Her research focuses on sustainable protected area management and outdoor recreation, emphasizing local community connections and assisting decision-makers in addressing challenges related to parks, relevance, access, collaboration, and climate change. Dr. Perry's applied social science research spans site-specific and regional contexts, utilizing interdisciplinary, mixed-method, and cross-scale approaches. Her work addresses critical issues faced by managers, tourists, and communities, providing valuable visitor use management data and linking broader contexts, such as park systems and regions. She studies various types of parks, focusing on unique managerial concerns while highlighting contributions to sustainability. Additionally, Dr. Perry's research involves community-focused programming and the development of recreational amenities. With a robust academic background, including a B.S. in Natural Resource Ecology from the University of Idaho, an M.S. in Forest Ecosystems and Society from Oregon State University, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont, she also completed postdoctoral training in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University.

Research Interests

Awards

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USFS Chief’s Honors Award

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CANR Excellence in Teaching – New Teacher Award

2025-04-22
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MSU Teacher-Scholar Award

2025-04-14
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CANR Early Career Researcher Awards

2024-04-19
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MSU All-University Awards

2025-04-11

Courses

CSUS 200 – Introduction to Sustainability CSUS 276 – Sustaining National Parks and Recreation Lands CSUS 310 – History of Environmental Thought and Sustainability CSUS 477 – Nature-based Tourism CSUS 814 – Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas Management

Requirements for Michigan State University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:17
Writing
Required:17
Speaking
Required:17
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field At least 15 credits in psychology courses
Application Checklist
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • CV/Resume
Specialization Notes

Department of Psychology