Dr. Christopher Monz

Biography

Christopher Monz is a Professor of Recreation Resources Management in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University. Chris joined the USU faculty in 2007, having previously been an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at St. Lawrence University in New York, the Academic Dean of Sterling College in Vermont, and the Research Director for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Wyoming. He holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management (Colorado State University) an MS in plant ecology (University of Maine) and a BA in biology (SUNY New Paltz). He has taught courses in outdoor recreation management, ecological impacts of recreation, nature-based tourism, interpretation, and outdoor education. 

His research specialty is recreation ecology with current research interests focusing on the integration of biophysical science, soil science, and park planning approaches. He has also worked extensively on recreation disturbance in arctic and alpine ecosystems and on park transportation management issues. Chris has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on over $4.5M funded research from the National Science Foundation, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, US Fish, and Wildlife Service and the Paul Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program. He has worked extensively in the US including Alaska and internationally in Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and Australia as and was a Fullbright Scholar for the 2013-14 academic year in Norway. He is the co-author of the textbook Wildland Recreation: Ecology and Management published in 2015. Chris is an active mountaineer, runner, and skier and has worked as an environmental educator, ranger, and climbing instructor.