Michael D. Ferguson, Assistant Professor, Recreation Management and Policy

Michael Ferguson

Associate Professor
Phone: (603) 862-1644
Office: Recreation Management & Policy, Hewitt Hall Rm 193, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
Curriculum Vitae

<div>Michael D. Ferguson, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Department of Recreation Management and Policy. His research focuses on visitor use management, recreation planning, and policy within parks and protected areas, with funding from federal and state agencies, including the USDA Forest Service, the National Park Service, New Hampshire State Parks, and other public and private partners. His work has been widely published in top journals and media outlets, and he has received recognition for his applied scientific contributions and collaborations with land managers and policy leaders. Actively engaged in collaborative research and policy initiatives with land managers, elected officials, and the outdoor industry, he works to enhance the role of recreation in public health, land stewardship, economic development, and natural resource sustainability.</div>
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<div>For additional information, please refer to <a href="https://www.unharrc.org/">The Applied Recreation Research Collaborative (ARRC) lab's website</a>.</div>

Courses Taught

  • OUT 515: Hist of Outdoor Pursuits in NA
  • 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
  • RMP 992: Research Methods in RMP

Education

  • Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
  • M.S., West Virginia University
  • B.S., West Virginia University

Research Interests

  • Social/Behavioral Science Planning/Policy
  • Parks & Recreation Management
  • Natural Resources Management
  • Recreation and Leisure Studies
  • Tourism
  • Social & Economic Environment

Selected Publications

  • Powers, S. L., Ferguson, L. A., Ferguson, M. D., Aytur, S., Gorman, M. B., Bennett, J. L., & Feldbaum, E. (2025). Fostering equity: How welcomeness, safety, and representation influence visitor coping and intention-to-return to parks and protected areas. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 50, 100868. doi:10.1016/j.jort.2025.100868

  • 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, L. A., Ferguson, M. D., Rodrigues, K., Evensen, D., Caraynoff, A. R., Persson, K., . . . Eisenhaure, S. (2024). The role of health and wellbeing in shaping local park experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 46, 100739. doi:10.1016/j.jort.2024.100739

  • Smith, M., Ferguson, M., Ferguson, L., Contosta, A., Burakowski, E., Levine, D., & Rogers, S. (2024). From a Shorter Winter Season to More Storm Damage: New Hampshire Outdoor Recreation Providers Feel Climate Impacts Far More than Visitors. https://scholars.unh.edu/carsey/484/: Carsey School of Public Polic. Retrieved from https://scholars.unh.edu/carsey/484/

  • 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., 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

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  • Most Cited Publications