Faculty, Staff and Students
Faculty
Peter Newman
Dr. Newman's research focuses on the human dimensions of natural resource management and social carrying capacity decision making in the context of protected areas management. He is the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on research currently underway in the Pawnee National Grasslands in Colorado, Yosemite National Park, Fulufjallet National Park in Sweden, and is beginning research with the Natural Sounds Program of the National Parks Service.
He also has work experience as a National Park Service Ranger in the Division of Resources Management in Yosemite and as a naturalist/instructor for the Yosemite Institute.
B.A. (Political Science, University of Rochester, 1994), M.S. (Forest Resource Management, State University of New York, 1998), Ph.D. (Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 2002)
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Phone: (970) 491-2839
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Derrick Taff
Derrick Taff is originally from Oklahoma, but he now calls Alabama home. He received his Bachelor's degree in Wilderness Recreation from the University of Alabama in 2003. He also received his Master's degree from the University of Alabama in 2005, focusing upon American Studies, with an emphasis in U.S. National Parks.
He has worked seasonally in Rocky Mountain National Park and directed the Outdoor Recreation Program at the University of Alabama from 2003-2008. He started the PhD program in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources in the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University in 2008, and completed his degree in 2012. His research focuses upon education as it pertains to visitor-use management in parks and protected areas. He has conducted field studies in Sequoia National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and Denali National Park and Preserve, addressing visitor perceptions of sounds, and has also conducted studies in Rocky Mountain National Park concentrating on visitor perceptions of Leave No Trace practices, crowding, and alternative transportation. Additionally, he has conducted environmental psychology laboratory studies focusing on perceptions of alternative energy, resource impacts, effectiveness of information sources, and biophysical responses to sounds and landscapes.
Derrick was recently accepted as a Board Member for the Society for Wilderness Stewardship. For more information regarding the mission of this valuable organization, and details about joining as a member, please visit wildernessstewardship.org/
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Affiliate Faculty
Dr. Steve Lawson
PhD, Natural Resources, University of Vermont, MS, Resource Economics and Policy, University of Maine, BS, Political Science, University of Vermont
Dr. Lawson directs RSG's Public Lands Management and Planning practice. He has been conducting research in national parks and related protected natural areas throughout the United States for over 10 years, with a focus on indicator‐based adaptive management and planning of user capacity.
His projects address nationally significant issues, including user capacity planning in Yosemite and Acadia National Parks; scenic air tour management in Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks; and alternative transportation planning in Rocky Mountain and Mount Rainier National Parks. Dr. Lawson is a member of the George Wright Society as well as a member of the International Association for Society and Natural Resource. Dr. Lawson also serves as the Associate Editor for the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, and is an Affiliate Faculty member at Colorado State University and Adjunct Faculty member at Virginia Polytechnic Insitute and State University.
EDUCATION
PhD, Natural Resources, University of Vermont
MS, Resource Economics and Policy, University of Maine,
BS, Political Science, University of Vermont
MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS
Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, Associate Editor
George Wright Society, Member
International Association for Society and Natural Resources, Member
Colorado State University, Affiliate Faculty
Steve Lawson is the director of:
Public lands planning and management
Alternative transportation in parks and public lands
Integrated transportation and pedestrian modeling
National Park soundscapes planning and management
Survey research design and analysis
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Students
David Weinzimmer
David is originally from Connecticut and received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brown University in 2001. Following graduation, he worked as a Research Associate at the University of Michigan and Yale University, conducting brain imaging studies.
In 2011, David decided to follow his passion for conservation, protected areas, and natural resource issues to CSU to pursue a Master’s in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. He is currently working with the National Park Service’s Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division to develop a laboratory simulation study looking at the psychological and biophysical impacts of excessive environmental noise in national parks.
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Ben Lawhon
Ben Lawhon, a Natural Resources Management graduate of the University of Tennessee, joined the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics staff in 2001, where he serves as the Education Director. His current responsibilities include research, curriculum development, management of national education and training programs, international initiatives and coordinating general outreach efforts. Previously he worked as the Associate Regional Representative for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Asheville, North Carolina from 1997–2001. While with ATC he was responsible for open-areas management, volunteer training, oversight of regional ridgerunner/caretaker programs and trail crews. He also researched and developed strategies for sanitation at overnight sites.
He has also worked as an American Canoe Association whitewater-kayak and swiftwater rescue instructor. Ben is currently pursuing a M.S. Degree at Colorado State University in Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management, focusing on the efficacy of the Leave No Trace program. Ben is an avid outdoor enthusiast, enjoying whitewater paddling, telemark skiing, fly fishing and backpacking.
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Colin Leslie
Colin was born and grew up on a small farm in the country outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. From New Mexico he headed off to college at Humboldt State University in the Northern California town of Arcata. Though the rainy Pacific northwest was a big change from the aired southwest, it proved to be one of the best choices of his life.
Colin received a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with an emphasis in GIS and Cartography. During his time at Humboldt, he was extremely fortunate to take part in a research project in Tibet where he spent two months and 2,100 miles documenting the impacts of transportation development in remote regions to subsistence Tibetan economies. During his time at Humboldt, he was also fortunate to begin his current career with the National Park Service where he spent each summer (with the exception of Tibet) working at Devils Postpile National Monument just outside of Mammoth Lakes, California. From Devils Postpile, Colin transitioned over to Yosemite National Park where he has spent the last three years working with the Branch of Visitor Use and Social Science. His work at Yosemite has included everything from wilderness management to transportation design and modeling.
He has continued developing his skills in the areas of GIS and statistics and looks forward to continuing his work and education with the Park Studies Unit at Colorado State University.
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Tim Archie
Tim Archie received both a Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from Cal Poly State University. As an
undergrad he spent a year studying at Lincoln University in New Zealand.
Tim has worked as a ski instructor, whitewater raft guide, park ranger,
trail builder, and most recently as a university academic advisor.
He is currently working on a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
in the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University.
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Bo Welden
Bo is a current student in the undergraduate program in Environmental Communication with a minor in Global Environmental Sustainability. Born and raised in the hills of the Colorado West, Bo has a strong affinity to the outdoors and protected areas. During his nonacademic time Bo enjoys rock climbing, trail running, mountain biking and back country skiing. A graduating senior, Bo has plans in the works to return to CSU in pursuit of a Master’s degree in the Environmental Education field. Having just returned from a trip to Kenya, new ideas have sparked a possible career of working overseas with different cultures. He aspires to use tested scientific methods to understand how different cultures relate to their environment and protected areas.
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Crystal Brindle
Crystal is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Parks and Protected Area Management and will graduate in May 2014. Growing up in many of America’s national parks and working two summer seasons at the Backcountry Office in Rocky Mountain National Park has inspired Crystal to work toward an upper level management position with the National Park Service as a full time career. Until then, Crystal looks forward to learning more about the many components of management through her senior year courses at Colorado State University, a summer internship, and an upcoming social and ecological field methods course in Kenya. In her free time, Crystal enjoys landscape photography, running, and exploring wild places.
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Alex Derbes
Alex grew up in Louisiana and is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in Parks and Protected Area Management and will graduate this May. He is also in Army ROTC and will be commissioning into the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in May. He enjoys mountain biking, hiking, running, and camping in his free time. Alex has helped Dr. Newman and Dr. Taff with their soundscape study and research conducted at Brainard Lake.
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Undergraduate Research Assistants
Bo Welden
Bo is a current student in the undergraduate program in Environmental Communication with a minor in Global Environmental Sustainability. Born and raised in the hills of the Colorado West, Bo has a strong affinity to the outdoors and protected areas. During his nonacademic time Bo enjoys rock climbing, trail running, mountain biking and back country skiing. A graduating senior, Bo has plans in the works to return to CSU in pursuit of a Master’s degree in the Environmental Education field. Having just returned from a trip to Kenya, new ideas have sparked a possible career of working overseas with different cultures. He aspires to use tested scientific methods to understand how different cultures relate to their environment and protected areas.
Contact Info:
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Crystal Brindle
Crystal is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Parks and Protected Area Management and will graduate in May 2014. Growing up in many of America’s national parks and working two summer seasons at the Backcountry Office in Rocky Mountain National Park has inspired Crystal to work toward an upper level management position with the National Park Service as a full time career. Until then, Crystal looks forward to learning more about the many components of management through her senior year courses at Colorado State University, a summer internship, and an upcoming social and ecological field methods course in Kenya. In her free time, Crystal enjoys landscape photography, running, and exploring wild places.
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Alex Derbes
Alex grew up in Louisiana and is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in Parks and Protected Area Management and will graduate this May. He is also in Army ROTC and will be commissioning into the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in May. He enjoys mountain biking, hiking, running, and camping in his free time. Alex has helped Dr. Newman and Dr. Taff with their soundscape study and research conducted at Brainard Lake.
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Former Students
Adam Gibson
Adam received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma with a major in Zoology. Afterwards, he worked as a land surveyor, counselor for the Daniel’s Fund scholarship program at Colorado State University, rock climbing instructor, and member of the North Cascades National Park Exotic Plant Management Team before returning to school to obtain his Master's of Science degree in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources.
Adam received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma with a major in Zoology. Afterwards, he worked as a land surveyor, counselor for the Daniel’s Fund scholarship program at Colorado State University, rock climbing instructor, and member of the North Cascades National Park Exotic Plant Management Team before returning to school to obtain his Master's of Science degree in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources.
Adam completed his PhD in the area of methodology and application of carrying capacity measurement with respect to the management of parks and public lands in 2011. After completed a Postdoctoral Research Associate appointment at Colorado State University, Adam worked as a Temporary Assistant Professor in the Environment and Society Department at Utah State. Adam is now a research consultant for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Outer Banks Field Site and is pursuing research with the University of North Carolina's Coastal Studies Institute in the areas of ecosystem services, climate change, and sustainable coastal livelihoods.
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Ericka Pilcher
Ericka acquired her B.S. in Conservation Science from Muskingum College (Ohio) in 2003. After graduation, she drove west to Loa Utah (near Capitol Reef National Park) and worked as a therapeutic wilderness instructor for a year. In 2004, she returned to school to obtain a M.S. focusing on Parks and Protected Areas Management at Colorado State University with Dr. Peter Newman as her advisor. While focusing on human dimensions research and park management at CSU, she joined the NPS Natural Sounds Program at the NRPC in Fort Collins and cooperated on a variety of visitor use studies at Muir Woods National Monument, Grand Teton National Park, and Yosemite National Park. Soon after, she started work as a CESU contractor and was involved in a variety of projects related to soundscape planning, acoustics, visitor use, interpretation, and public outreach. In the spring of 2010, she received a biotech position at Bryce Canyon where she researched possible noise impacts to peregrine falcons. She joined the NPS (Denver Service Center) Visitor Use Management team in the fall of 2010, and has been working on planning projects related to visitor use in parks.
Ericka is originally from Ohio (Go Buckeyes), where most of her family still resides. Outside of work, she loves to oil paint, mountain bike, and trail run. Some of her favorite national park memories include listening to calving glaciers in Kenai Fjords, rafting down the Grand Canyon, summiting the Grand Teton, and camping in Kenya’s Tsavo National Park amongst the lions!
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Lelaina Marin
Lelaina grew up in Southold, NY, a small town on Long Island. She attended Cornell University as an undergrad and received her B.S. in Natural Resources Management. After graduation, she began working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Hadley, MA as a Natural Resource Planner. With the USFWS, she helped develop Comprehensive Conservation Plans for various refuges throughout the Northeast Region.
In November 2007, she began working with the National Park Service's Natural Sounds Program. With this program she helps to preserve and protect natural sounds throughout national park units and minimize noise impacts to wildlife and visitors.
Lelaina has always been interested in wildlife conservation, but through her work with both the USFWS and NPS she became more interested in the human dimensions aspect of wildlife management. This is what led her to pursue a Master's in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at CSU. Lelaina has recently conducted research at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California, and is currently working as a Wildlife Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service at Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Western PA.
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David Pettebone
Dr. Pettebone is currently the Wilderness Coordinator at Rocky Mountain National Park. He has previously been employed as the Social Scientist for Yosemite National Park in the Resource Management and Science Division. His research has focused on understanding visitor travel networks throughout parks and protected areas and the resulting changes to visitor experiences and resource conditions. He has conducted visitor use related research in various national parks for 5 years.
He has also previously worked on NPS trail maintenance crews in King's Canyon NP, Yosemite NP, Big Bend NP, and Rocky Mountain NP. Dr. Pettebone received his Ph.D. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University.
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Dave Stack
Dave is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, but has traveled around the country as part of his career with the National Park Service. His NPS career began, however, in his hometown at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine where he worked as an interpretation ranger. After graduating with a B.A. in history from the University of Maryland, Dave continued his education at CSU.
Dave’s M.S. research tested the effectiveness of educational messages requesting quiet in Muir Woods National Monument. Based on this research, Muir Woods has permanently installed signs asking for quiet in the park.
Since completion of his M.S. in the spring of 2008, Dave has worked as a research partner for the NPS Natural Sounds Program, a ranger at the Statue of Liberty and a soundscape resources specialist at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Most recently, Dave completed the NPS Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program at Northern Arizona University. Dave's interests include camping, kayaking, baseball (Go O’s!), music, and travel.
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Dave is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, but has traveled around the country as part of his career with the National Park Service. His NPS career began, however, in his hometown at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine where he worked as an interpretation ranger. After graduating with a B.A. in history from the University of Maryland, Dave continued his education at CSU.
Dave’s M.S. research tested the effectiveness of educational messages requesting quiet in Muir Woods National Monument. Based on this research, Muir Woods has permanently installed signs asking for quiet in the park.
Since completion of his M.S. in the spring of 2008, Dave has worked as a research partner for the NPS Natural Sounds Program, a ranger at the Statue of Liberty and a soundscape resources specialist at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Most recently, Dave completed the NPS Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program at Northern Arizona University. Dave's interests include camping, kayaking, baseball (Go O’s!), music, and travel.
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