In the fall of 2016, Dr. Melissa Weddell, Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education, was selected as one of four visiting scholars to teach and conduct research at Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The World Leisure Organization is a world-wide, non-governmental association dedicated to discovering and fostering leisure experience as a force for human development, well-being, employment, and quality of life. As part of the mission, the World Leisure Organization host visiting scholars from around the world on four different University campuses which include Spain, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States.
As a visiting scholar, Dr. Weddell co-taught a course titled, “Influencing Change Towards Sustainability” in the Masters of Arts Sustainable Leisure Management Program that enrolls students from all over the world. She also gave a public lecture titled, “Take that Exit: Attracting Tourists to Rural Destinations in the Appalachian Mountains” where she highlighted how tourism is an alternative contributor to the rural economy of the Mountain Region. In addition Weddell co-lead a three day learning lab that included behind the scene tours of social enterprises centered around leisure/recreation startups that are change agents in the city of Vancouver, B.C. The Visiting Scholar Program is designed to bring local and international leaders to VIU to engage with students, faculty and the Vancouver Island region. The purpose of this engagement is to enrich the student experience, to share research and professional experiences, and to explore possibilities for future collaborations.
Weddell’s research focuses on rural tourism, specifically balancing local concerns in developing protected areas, encouraging recreation and attracting tourism, while working collaboratively to foster policy change and provide large scale benefit based recreation to improve overall quality of life.
Congratulations Dr. Weddell on your well-deserved selection!
Melissa Weddell
Dr. Melissa Weddell