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University Park, Illinois, United States
Onsite
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
Tenure-line Assistant Professor: Visitor Use Management, Outdoor Recreation Management, and/or Nature and Health
The Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (RPTM) at Penn State is seeking to hire a faculty member who can contribute to our engaged, productive, and collegial group whose mission is to transform human health and wellbeing through research, teaching and outreach associated with engaging people with recreation, park, and tourism activities (http://www.hhd.psu.edu/rptm).
Specifically, we are seeking to hire a tenure-line faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in Fall 2027 whose research focuses broadly on outdoor recreation management (public lands policy and governance, outdoor recreation economy, environmental justice and access to nature, climate adaptation), visitor use management (carrying capacity, visitor monitoring technologies, recreation ecology), and/or the intersection between people, nature, and health (nature-based health interventions, restorative environments, environmental psychology).
Candidates must have an active line of programmatic research and be prepared to supervise and fund graduate (M.S./Ph.D.) student research.
We are particularly interested in researchers whose work is fit for inter- or transdisciplinary collaborations, and researchers who are engaging in cutting-edge research-methods, whether that is innovative quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches, or emerging computational methods (e.g., machine learning applications, wearable sensors and physiological monitoring, environmental sensors and GPS tracking, agent-based modeling, scenario modeling). We are also interested in candidates who can make meaningful contributions and linkages to cross-campus entities (e.g., Institutes for Energies and Environment, Ecology Institute, Social Science Research Institute, Institute of Computational or Data Sciences, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Education Center, Center for Social Data Analytics and associated SODA dual-title doctoral program, and/or the dual-degree graduate program in Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society (TREES). Additionally, we are eager to consider candidates who would be able to engage community organizations and agencies involved in land management, outdoor recreation management, or engagement with individuals in the outdoors.
As a department of approximately 350 undergraduate students at the University Park campus and in our World Campus online program, we also value effective teaching and student engagement inside and outside the classroom. We seek candidates who are willing and able to teach into the RPTM undergraduate core as well as specifically within the Outdoor Recreation Management option area or the Sustainability Leadership Minor, as well as the graduate program. Candidates should have a commitment to engaged and inclusive learning practices in the context of in-person and/or online (synchronous and asynchronous) classrooms.
Finally, we seek candidates that recognize the importance of service commitments to the RPTM department, the College of Health and Human Development, the University, and to their profession.
About the College
The College of Health and Human Development offers a robust program of eight interdisciplinary programs, including RPTM, that share one common goal: enriching the lives of others. We continually examine contemporary issues facing people in today’s changing times, and we develop cutting-edge solutions for addressing them. Our impact extends from our classrooms, across communities and industries, and around the globe.
About Penn State University
The Pennsylvania State University is a land-grant institution and one of the top 30 research universities in the United States, ranking among the top 15 public institutions. The University Park Campus is located in State College, a vibrant university town in central Pennsylvania, offering excellent schools and outstanding recreational and cultural activities. The campus is within a 3-4 hour drive to major metropolitan areas, including Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Pittsburgh.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
Our campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge-Munsee), Monongahela, Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern, and Oklahoma), Susquehannock, and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations. As a land grant institution, we acknowledge and honor the traditional caretakers of these lands and strive to understand and model their responsible stewardship. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history.
Benefits
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
Application Instructions
To apply, please upload a resume/curriculum vitae, a cover letter outlining your interest in the position, and contact information for three professional references.
Review of applications will begin on November 01, 2026 will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Questions related to the position can be addressed to Dr. Carter Hunt at cah59@psu.edu.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES: Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
BENEFITS
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.
For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.