Heather Gibson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Ph.D. in sport, leisure and exercise science, University of Connecticut (1994)
M.A. in sport and leisure studies, University of Connecticut (1989)
B.Ed. in physical education, Brighton Polytechnic (1985)
Curriculum Vitae

Biography:
Heather J. Gibson, Ph.D., has been an associate professor in the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management since 2003. Before she held this position, she was an assistant professor in the Department for six years.

Gibson was also a TRSM assistant professor in the Department of Leisure Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for three years. She has been published many times and serves on the editorial boards of a number of journals.

She is currently a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association, the Leisure Studies Association, the North American Society for Sport Management, and the European Association for Sport Management.

Research Interests:

• • Active sport tourism participation in mid and later life – senior games and Bike Florida
• • The effects of event sport tourism on the community
• • The leisure, health and well being in later- life women.
• • Resistance and empowerment of women through solo travel.
• • Tourist roles (behavior) during the lifespan with a focus on gender, motivation, risk and thrill seeking.

Classes:
LEI 3830 Principles of Travel and Tourism
LEI 4880 Evaluation in Leisure Services
LEI 5188 Trends in Leisure Studies
LEI 6838 Sport Tourism
LEI 6895 Tourism Concepts and Theories
LEI 7163 Foundations of Leisure Behavior