Bob Powell, George B. Hartzog Jr. Endowed Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) and director of the Clemson University Institute for Parks (CUIP), received the Fellow Award from the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) – the professional organization’s highest honor – with longtime collaborator, Marc J. Stern, professor of forest resources and environmental conservation at Virginia Tech, for their collaborative career achievements in interpretation.
According to the NAI, interpretation is a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives and inspire engagement with the natural world.
As a leader in the field, Powell has advanced scholarship that shapes both practice and understanding. His research interests include environmental education and interpretation, parks and protected area management, ecotourism, outdoor recreation and biodiversity conservation. Over the course of his career, he has served as principal investigator (PI) and co-PI on projects for the National Science Foundation (NSF), United States National Park Service (NPS), National Park Foundation and more, securing millions of dollars in grant funding for research initiatives related to environmental education and interpretation.
“Prior to pursuing my Ph.D., I worked for years as an adventure guide using interpretation to facilitate meaning-making and to improve experiences. I saw firsthand how these experiences could elicit awe and transform individuals,” said Powell. “Since then, I have explored how interpreters can increase the likelihood of a transformational experience. Today, it is my belief that there is no higher calling than to serve my profession. This belief underpins the questions I seek to answer and is the reason I have dedicated my career to making a positive difference in the field that is an important part of my identity and passion.”
In partnership with Stern, Powell has produced ground-breaking results for the field of interpretation. Their joint research has led to innovative practices and positive outcomes for visitors across hundreds of programs in the NPS. In 2013, the pair published the results of a study examining live interpretive programs and the approaches and characteristics that contribute to positive visitor experiences. The study, which was featured in a special issue of the Journal of Interpretation Research, represented the first attempt in the field to gather empirical evidence for best practices in live interpretation across a large sample of programs. It yielded key lessons that influenced the next decade of training for interpreters throughout the NPS and beyond.
Additionally, Powell has co-authored more than 100 publications on interpretation and environmental education, delivered more than 200 professional presentations and co-mentored over 25 graduate students alongside Stern.
“Dr. Powell is a highly respected scholar and leader in the field of interpretation, and it is outstanding that he is being recognized nationally for this prestigious Fellow Award,” said Leslie Hossfeld, dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. “His career contributions have strengthened and transformed his field, setting new standards and creating pathways for future discovery. His work elevates the academic community and inspires us all to pursue excellence with purpose and passion.”
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management is a part of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. Established in July 2016, CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in nine disciplines – communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice – to further its mission of “building people and communities” in South Carolina and beyond.
