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Ryan Leonard Sharp, PhD

Associate Professor | School of Natural Resources

Specialization: Outdoor Recreation and Park Management

Overview

The outdoors is for everyone! Through my teaching and research, I aim to provide high quality opportunities and experiences for all while maintaining the integrity of the outdoor spaces we all share.


I was born in Virginia, but raised in Syracuse, New York. I spent my youth exploring the countryside of rural upstate New York and developing a love of parks and protected areas. My father, an earth science teacher, would take me to National Parks and National Forest during the summer to hike and camp. These trips planted the seed for my ultimate choice of professions, to teach and conduct research related to outdoor recreation, parks and protected areas.

I have held positions at Acadia National Park in Maine and as a visitor use specialist with the National Park Service Denver Planning Division. These experiences have informed my research and teaching and have allowed me to provide students with an inside look at outdoor recreation, park and protected area management.

I strive to encourage students to expand their thought processes and help them develop critical thinking skills. Helping the student connect the importance of the material to their own lives and their own context is the ultimate goal.

I enjoy visiting parks with my wife and two children in my free time.


Research Focus

Understanding the complex dynamic between visitor use and conservation in parks and protected areas.

Research Questions
  • I am interested in research questions related to environmental stewardship, visitor use management, parks and protected area management, human dimensions of natural resources, effectiveness of educational programs / interpretation.
Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
FORS 321 - Wildland Recreation
3 credit hour(s)

Introduction to Wildland Recreation: Historical and philosophical foundations of recreation, wildland recreation behavior, resources, policy, planning and management, and natural history interpretation. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (WC) Satisfies General Education Requirement through the 2021-2022 academic catalog: (WC)
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ENGL 102, ENGL 112, ENGL 132, or ENGL 298.

Semesters Offered: Fall
FORS 327 - Honors: Wildland Recreation
3 credit hour(s)

Students will attend FORS 321 classes with supplementary assignments. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (WC) Satisfies General Education Requirement through the 2021-2022 academic catalog: (WC)
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ENGL 102, ENGL 112, ENGL 132, or ENGL 298.

Semesters Offered: Fall
FORS 337 - Honors: Wood Properties and Uses
2 credit hour(s)

Students will attend FORS 331 classes with supplementary assignments.

Other Instructors: Taylor, Adam

Semesters Offered: Fall
FORS 423 - Wildland Recreation Planning and Management
3 credit hour(s)

Planning processes, master and site planning, and site design projects. Management strategies and methods of visitor and recreation site management. Case studies. Weekend field trips may be required.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.

Semesters Offered: Spring
FORS 495 - Internship in Wildland Recreation
1 - 6 credit hours

A highly-structured field experience guided by specific learning objectives. Students earn one credit per two weeks of full-time field experience. The student is responsible for field placement. Must be pre-approved by the instructor and the field supervisor.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
FWF 416 - Planning and Management of Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
3 credit hour(s)

Integrated forest and wildland resource management through developing land management plans and analyzing case studies including conflict resolution. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (EI)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour and 2 labs.
Registration Restriction(s): Restricted to Forestry and Wildlife and Fisheries Science majors only; minimum student level – senior.

Other Instructors: Jean-Philippe, Sharon | Willcox, Emma

Semesters Offered: Spring
FWF 693 - Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Directed research on topic of mutual interest to faculty and student.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Spring
Picture of Ryan Leonard Sharp, PhD

865-974-7126

rsharp19@tennessee.edu

Google Scholar
Curriculum Vitae
51D McCord Hall
2640 Morgan Circle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4563
Education and Training
  • Research Partner, Leave No Trace, Issued 10/5/2023
  • Research Scholar , Clemson University Institute for Parks, Issued 1/1/2020
  • PhD, Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 2010
  • MEd, Outdoor Education Administration, Georgia College, 2005
  • BS, Physical Education, State University of New York at Cortland, 1998
Responsible Area(s)
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
Lab Members
Susan M Schexnayder
Katie Smith
Taylor Evan Bogucki
Web Presence
Instagram
Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Lab (O.R.C)

Ryan Leonard Sharp, PhD

Associate Professor | School of Natural Resources
Picture of Ryan Leonard Sharp, PhD image

865-974-7126

rsharp19@tennessee.edu

Google Scholar
Curriculum Vitae
51D McCord Hall
2640 Morgan Circle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4563
Education and Training
  • Research Partner, Leave No Trace, Issued 10/5/2023
  • Research Scholar , Clemson University Institute for Parks, Issued 1/1/2020
  • PhD, Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 2010
  • MEd, Outdoor Education Administration, Georgia College, 2005
  • BS, Physical Education, State University of New York at Cortland, 1998
Responsible Area(s)
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
Overview

The outdoors is for everyone! Through my teaching and research, I aim to provide high quality opportunities and experiences for all while maintaining the integrity of the outdoor spaces we all share.


I was born in Virginia, but raised in Syracuse, New York. I spent my youth exploring the countryside of rural upstate New York and developing a love of parks and protected areas. My father, an earth science teacher, would take me to National Parks and National Forest during the summer to hike and camp. These trips planted the seed for my ultimate choice of professions, to teach and conduct research related to outdoor recreation, parks and protected areas.

I have held positions at Acadia National Park in Maine and as a visitor use specialist with the National Park Service Denver Planning Division. These experiences have informed my research and teaching and have allowed me to provide students with an inside look at outdoor recreation, park and protected area management.

I strive to encourage students to expand their thought processes and help them develop critical thinking skills. Helping the student connect the importance of the material to their own lives and their own context is the ultimate goal.

I enjoy visiting parks with my wife and two children in my free time.


Research Focus

Understanding the complex dynamic between visitor use and conservation in parks and protected areas.

Research Questions
  • I am interested in research questions related to environmental stewardship, visitor use management, parks and protected area management, human dimensions of natural resources, effectiveness of educational programs / interpretation.
Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
FORS 321 - Wildland Recreation
3 credit hour(s)

Introduction to Wildland Recreation: Historical and philosophical foundations of recreation, wildland recreation behavior, resources, policy, planning and management, and natural history interpretation. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (WC) Satisfies General Education Requirement through the 2021-2022 academic catalog: (WC)
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ENGL 102, ENGL 112, ENGL 132, or ENGL 298.

Semesters Offered: Fall
FORS 327 - Honors: Wildland Recreation
3 credit hour(s)

Students will attend FORS 321 classes with supplementary assignments. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (WC) Satisfies General Education Requirement through the 2021-2022 academic catalog: (WC)
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ENGL 102, ENGL 112, ENGL 132, or ENGL 298.

Semesters Offered: Fall
FORS 337 - Honors: Wood Properties and Uses
2 credit hour(s)

Students will attend FORS 331 classes with supplementary assignments.

Other Instructors: Taylor, Adam

Semesters Offered: Fall
FORS 423 - Wildland Recreation Planning and Management
3 credit hour(s)

Planning processes, master and site planning, and site design projects. Management strategies and methods of visitor and recreation site management. Case studies. Weekend field trips may be required.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.

Semesters Offered: Spring
FORS 495 - Internship in Wildland Recreation
1 - 6 credit hours

A highly-structured field experience guided by specific learning objectives. Students earn one credit per two weeks of full-time field experience. The student is responsible for field placement. Must be pre-approved by the instructor and the field supervisor.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
FWF 416 - Planning and Management of Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
3 credit hour(s)

Integrated forest and wildland resource management through developing land management plans and analyzing case studies including conflict resolution. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (EI)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour and 2 labs.
Registration Restriction(s): Restricted to Forestry and Wildlife and Fisheries Science majors only; minimum student level – senior.

Other Instructors: Jean-Philippe, Sharon | Willcox, Emma

Semesters Offered: Spring
FWF 693 - Independent Study
1 - 3 credit hours

Directed research on topic of mutual interest to faculty and student.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Spring
Lab Members
Susan M Schexnayder
Katie Smith
Taylor Evan Bogucki
Web Presence
Instagram
Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Lab (O.R.C)