I am a social scientist and an expert in the field of recreation management and policy, with a specialization in researching visitor use management within parks and protected areas (PPAs). My work aims to enhance visitor experiences, protect natural and cultural resources, and to promote economic opportunities in and around PPA settings.
My expertise encompasses a wide range of areas including visitor use management, carrying capacity, managed access, visitor education, needs assessments, program and facility evaluations, economic impact, workforce development, ecological impacts, energy development, and climate change. In collaboration with land managers, elected officials, and the outdoor industry, I conduct scientifically rigorous research to support informed decision-making and policy development in and around PPAs.
For additional information, please refer to the Applied Recreation Research Collaborative (ARRC) lab's website at <a href="http://www.unharrc.org">www.unharrc.org</a>.
Courses Taught
- RMP 515: Hist Outdoor Pursuits North Am
- RMP 559: Mktg Recreation
- RMP 670: Venue Mgmt Design & Operations
- RMP 711/811: Recreation Resource Management
- RMP 806: Rec Admin & Organization Behav
- RMP 970: Teaching Practicum
- RMP 980: Independent Study
Research Interests
- Social/Behavioral Science Planning/Policy
- Parks & Recreation Management
- Natural Resources Management
- Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Tourism
- Social & Economic Environment
Selected Publications
Ferguson, M. D., Robinson, T., Ferguson, L. A., Evensen, D., Schwartz, F., Gonyo, S., & Freitag, A. (2024). Cultivating commitment: how cultural ecosystem services affect visitor loyalty attitudes and intention-to-return in parks and protected areas. Ecosystems and People, 20(1). doi:10.1080/26395916.2023.2297560
Ferguson, M. D., Lynch, M. L., Evensen, D., Ferguson, L. A., Barcelona, R., Giles, G., & Leberman, M. (2023). The nature of the pandemic: Exploring the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic upon recreation visitor behaviors and experiences in parks and protected areas.. J Outdoor Recreat Tour, 41, 100498. doi:10.1016/j.jort.2022.100498
Ferguson, M. D., Perry, E. E., Lynch, M., Ferguson, L. A., Kiewra, L. A., Leberman, M., . . . Manning, R. E. (2022). Expanding the viewshed: Insights and implications for examining visitor use management across scales and modalities in an Iconic National Forest. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 40, 100570. doi:10.1016/j.jort.2022.100570
Ferguson, M. D., McIntosh, K., English, D. B. K., Ferguson, L. A., Barcelona, R., Giles, G., . . . Leberman, M. (2022). The Outdoor Renaissance: Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon Outdoor Recreation Visitation, Behaviors, and Decision-Making in New England's National Forests. SOCIETY & NATURAL RESOURCES, 35(10), 1063-1082. doi:10.1080/08941920.2022.2055247
Bidwell, D., Firestone, J., & Ferguson, M. D. (2022). Love thy neighbor (or not): Regionalism and support for the use of offshore wind energy by others. Energy Research & Social Science, 90, 102599. doi:10.1016/j.erss.2022.102599
Ferguson, M. D., Evensen, D., Ferguson, L. A., Bidwell, D., Firestone, J., Dooley, T. L., & Mitchell, C. R. (2021). Uncharted waters: Exploring coastal recreation impacts, coping behaviors, and attitudes towards offshore wind energy development in the United States. ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE, 75. doi:10.1016/j.erss.2021.102029
Ferguson, M. D., Lynch, M. L., Miller, Z. D., Ferguson, L. A., & Newman, P. (2020). What do outdoor recreationists think of fracking? Politics, ideology, and perceptions of shale gas energy development in Pennsylvania State Forests. ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE, 62. doi:10.1016/j.erss.2019.101384
Miller, Z. D., Ferguson, L. A., Newman, P., Ferguson, M., Tipton, N., Sparrow, V., & Taff, B. D. (2020). Developing visitor thresholds of sound from shale natural gas compressors for motorized and non-motorized recreation users in Pennsylvania State Forests. APPLIED ACOUSTICS, 157. doi:10.1016/j.apacoust.2019.107012
Ferguson, M. D., Powers, S. L., Trauntvein, N., Jacquet, J. B., Graefe, A. R., & Mowen, A. J. (2019). Winds of change - Predicting water-based recreationists' support and opposition for offshore wind energy development in the Great Lakes. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH, 45(1), 187-195. doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2018.10.006
Ferguson, M. D., Mueller, J. T., Graefe, A. R., & Mowen, A. J. (2018). Coping with Climate Change: A Study of Great Lakes Water-Based Recreationists. JOURNAL OF PARK AND RECREATION ADMINISTRATION, 36(2), 52-74. doi:10.18666/JPRA-2018-V36-I2-8296