Profile Image for Sam Keith 2022

Sam Keith, PhD

Director, Center for Outdoor Leadership
Program Coordinator, Outdoor Leadership
sam.keith@ngu.edu
Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences, School of Health and Wellness, Outdoor Leadership
Location: Tigerville

“True education is a kind of never ending story — a matter of continual beginnings, of habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Teaching & Education

    PhD, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, University of Georgia
    MS, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, Clemson University
    BS, Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University

     

  • Professional Experience

    I joined the North Greenville faculty in April 2022. Previously, I have worked as an outdoor recreation instructor, research and teaching assistant, minister at a local church, camp counselor, rock climbing instructor, construction project manager, among others.

  • Selected Publications

    Wynveen, C. J., Woosnam, K. M., Keith, S. J., & Barr, J. (2021). Support for wilderness preservation: An investigation of the roles of place attachment and environmental worldview. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 35, 100417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2021.100417

    Larson, L. R., Peterson, M. N., von Furstenberg, R., Vayer, V. R., Lee, K. J., Choi, D. Y., Stevenson, K., Ahlers, A. A., Anhalt-Depies, C., Bethke, T., Bruskotter, J., Chizinki, C. J., Clark, B., Dayer, A. A., Dunning, K. H., Ghasemi, B., Gigliotti, L., Graefe, A., Irwin, K., Keith, S. J., Kelly, M., Kyle, G., Metcalf, E., Morse, W., Needham, M. D., Poudyal, N., Quartuch, M., Rodriguez, S., Romulo, C., Sharp, R. L., Siemer, W., Springer, M., Stedman, R., Stein, T., van Deelen, T., Whiting, J., Winkler, R. L., & Woosnam, K. M. (2021). The future of wildlife conservation funding: what options would U.S. college students support? Conservation Science and Practice, e505.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.505

    Vayer, V., Larson, L. R., Peterson, M. N., Lee, K. J., Von Furstenberg, R., Choi, D., Stevenson, K., Ahlers, A., Anhalt-Depies, C., Bruskotter, J., Chizinski, C., Dayer, A., Farmer, J., Ghasemi, B.,
    Gigliotti, L., Graefe, A., Irwin, K., Keith, S. J., Kelly, M.,… Woosnam, K. M. (2021). Diverse
    university students across the United States reveal promising pathways to hunter recruitment
    and retention. Journal of Wildlife Management. http://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22055

    Landon, A. C., Woosnam, K. M., Kyle, G. T., & Keith, S. J. (2020). Psychological needs satisfaction and attachment to natural landscapes. Environment and Behavior.
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916520916255

    Rigolon, A., Keith, S. J., Harris, B., Mullenbach, L. E., Larson, L. R., & Rushing, J. (2020). More than “just green enough”: Helping park professionals find community-centered solutions to environmental gentrification. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 38(3).
    https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-9654

    Lum, C. S., Keith, S. J., & Scott, D. (2020). The long-distance hiking social world along the Pacific Crest Trail. Journal of Leisure Research, 51(2), 165-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2019.1640095
    Keith, S. J., & Boley, B. (2019). Importance-Performance Analysis of Local Resident Greenway Users: Findings from Three Atlanta BeltLine Neighborhoods. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening,
    44(2019), 126426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126426

    Maruyama, N., Keith, S. J., & Woosnam, K. M. (2019). Incorporating Emotion into Social Exchange: Considering Distinct Resident Groups’ Attitudes towards Ethnic Neighborhood Tourism in Osaka, Japan. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(8), 1125-1141.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1593992

    Wynveen, C. J., Woosnam, K. M., Keith, S. J., & Barr, J. (2021). Support for wilderness preservation: An investigation of the roles of place attachment and environmental worldview. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 35, 100417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2021.100417

    Larson, L. R., Peterson, M. N., von Furstenberg, R., Vayer, V. R., Lee, K. J., Choi, D. Y., Stevenson, K., Ahlers, A. A., Anhalt-Depies, C., Bethke, T., Bruskotter, J., Chizinki, C. J., Clark, B., Dayer, A. A., Dunning, K. H., Ghasemi, B., Gigliotti, L., Graefe, A., Irwin, K., Keith, S. J., Kelly, M., Kyle, G., Metcalf, E., Morse, W., Needham, M. D., Poudyal, N., Quartuch, M., Rodriguez, S., Romulo, C., Sharp, R. L., Siemer, W., Springer, M., Stedman, R., Stein, T., van Deelen, T., Whiting, J., Winkler, R. L., & Woosnam, K. M. (2021). The future of wildlife conservation funding: what options would U.S. college students support? Conservation Science and Practice, e505.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.505

    Vayer, V., Larson, L. R., Peterson, M. N., Lee, K. J., Von Furstenberg, R., Choi, D., Stevenson, K., Ahlers, A., Anhalt-Depies, C., Bruskotter, J., Chizinski, C., Dayer, A., Farmer, J., Ghasemi, B.,
    Gigliotti, L., Graefe, A., Irwin, K., Keith, S. J., Kelly, M.,… Woosnam, K. M. (2021). Diverse  university students across the United States reveal promising pathways to hunter recruitment and retention. Journal of Wildlife Management. http://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22055

    Landon, A. C., Woosnam, K. M., Kyle, G. T., & Keith, S. J. (2020). Psychological needs satisfaction and attachment to natural landscapes. Environment and Behavior.
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916520916255

    Rigolon, A., Keith, S. J., Harris, B., Mullenbach, L. E., Larson, L. R., & Rushing, J. (2020). More than “just green enough”: Helping park professionals find community-centered solutions to environmental gentrification. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 38(3).
    https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-9654

    Lum, C. S., Keith, S. J., & Scott, D. (2020). The long-distance hiking social world along the Pacific Crest Trail. Journal of Leisure Research, 51(2), 165-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2019.1640095

    Keith, S. J., & Boley, B. (2019). Importance-Performance Analysis of Local Resident Greenway Users: Findings from Three Atlanta BeltLine Neighborhoods. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening,
    44(2019), 126426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126426

    Maruyama, N., Keith, S. J., & Woosnam, K. M. (2019). Incorporating Emotion into Social Exchange: Considering Distinct Resident Groups’ Attitudes towards Ethnic Neighborhood Tourism in Osaka, Japan. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(8), 1125-1141.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1593992

    Woosnam, K. M., Strzelecka, M., Nisbett, G., & Keith, S. J. (2019). Global citizenship and Millennials’ behavioral intentions to engage in conservation volunteering. Sustainability, 11(8), 2324. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11082324

    Landon, A., Woosnam, K. M., Keith, S. J., Tarrant, M., Rubin, D., & Ling, S. (2019). Understanding and modifying beliefs about climate change through educational travel. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(3), 292-307. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2018.1560452

    Keith, S. J., Larson, L. R., Shafer, C. S., Hallo, J. C., & Fernandez, M. (2018). Greenway use and preferences in diverse urban communities: Implications for trail design and management.
    Landscape and Urban Planning, 172, 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2017.12.007

    Larson, L. R., Keith, S. J., Fernandez, M., Hallo, J. C., Shafer, C. S., & Jennings, V. (2016). Ecosystem services and urban greenways: What’s the public’s perspective? Ecosystem Services, 22, 111-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.10.004

  • Selected Awards Received

    Mr. Terence and Ms. Sheila Green NRRT Award (2019), Warnell School of Forestry and Natural
    Resources, University of Georgia

    Young Alumni Scholarship for Leadership Training (2018), Warnell School of Forestry and Natural
    Resources, University of Georgia

    Graduate Student Award of Excellence (2016), College of Health, Education and Human Development, Clemson University

  • My Network

    I am an active member of Grace Church (Greenville, SC); am connected with various camps and ministries in South Carolina, Texas, and Colorado; and have many connections with colleagues in parks, recreation, and tourism university programs across the country (e.g., Texas A&M, Clemson, University of Georgia, NC State).

  • My Story

    I grew up near San Antonio, Texas where I grew fond of the outdoors and came to know Christ. I originally decided to study Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences from Texas A&M University because I wanted to work in summer camp ministry. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I became interested in the role outdoor recreation and natural areas play in individuals’ lives. This led me to pursue a master’s degree at Clemson. My interest in ministry remained and I worked at my local church upon completing my master’s. I then pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Georgia to fuel my interest in teaching and research related to human dimensions of natural resources. I now have the opportunity to combine these interests by teaching outdoor leadership at a Christian university.

    I enjoy hiking, climbing, running, riding bikes, reading, among other outdoor-related hobbies. My wife, Abby, and I have 2 children, Walker (2020) and Lucy (2022), and a German Shorthaired Pointer (Gus).

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