Dr. Andrew Lepp

I earned my Ph.D. in 2004 from the University of Florida's Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism. Before pursuing a Ph.D., I worked for seven years in the field of natural resource management and conservation. During this time, I worked for the United States Park Service, the United States Forest Service and was a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda, East Africa. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I served for two years as a Warden of Tourism in Uganda's national park system. In preparation for these jobs, I earned a Master of Science degree from Oregon State University in natural resource management, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Wake Forest University in mathematical-economics. This diversity of experience influenced my interests in ecotourism, international tourism, outdoor recreation, natural resource conservation and international development. Most recently, my experience as a father has motivated a new research interest: understanding the connections between new media use (smartphones, internet, etc.) and young people’s behavior.