Faculty Research
Research within the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism reflects backgrounds
ranging from psychology to sociology; from marketing to economics; from geography to
rehabilitation; from communication to leisure behavior; from health and wellness to
natural resources. Students are exposed to a variety of diverse and relevant
perspectives on the park, recreation, sport and tourism profession.
Faculty Research Highlights
Carla Santos
Associate Professor, Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Carla Santos approaches tourism research from a perspective of qualitative critical cultural studies. Her work
addresses communicative practices relating to the promotion of destinations and to the negotiation of those promotional
materials between tourists and hosts.
Read more about Dr. Santos.
Kim Shinew
Professor, Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Kim Shinew's research addresses relationships between leisure practices and cultural diversity. Working closely with park districts in
the Chicago area, Dr. Shinew has been examining boundary issues between different racial and ethnic groups. In a study of factors
addressing the quality of life of residents of Little Village, a largely Latino neighborhood, she and Dr. Monika Stodolska found that
things such as environmental degradation, insufficient access to open spaces, a low sense of community, fear of crime, and the
undocumented status of many residents adversely affected the community's quality of life. Working within a field in which it is
commonly accepted that exercise and leisure activity carries many benefits, Dr. Shinew said it is also important to identify that
some of the obstacles people face, such as fear of violence in parks and recreational facilities, are seemingly insurmountable.
Read more about Dr. Shinew.
Monika Stodolska
Associate Professor, Recreation, Sport and Tourism
With a focus on cultural change and its relationship to leisure behavior, Monika Stodolska has investigated the effects of
leisure on identity development among young immigrants, the effects of crime on physical activity and recreation, and other
similar issues. Her current research in the predominantly Latino Little Village community of Chicago is examining the general
effects of crime, including the fear of crime, on physical activity and outdoor recreation among Latino adolescents. In
illuminating the conditions within which many people live, she seeks to emphasize that leisure activity cannot be studied
in isolation from the broader environment. Read more about Dr. Stodolska.
Scott Tainsky
Assistant Professor, Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Scott Tainsky identifies the values of sports fans by examining such things as attendance and television broadcast demand for professional
sporting events. In a paper published in Social Science Quarterly, Dr. Tainsky and University of Michigan professor Jason Winfree examined
the impact on attendance of adding international players to Major League Baseball teams. Dr. Tainsky has also examined the effects of
domestic population migration and steroid policy on consumer demand for professional sports events. Undergirding all his research, he
says, is the desire to disseminate information that will allow fans to reflect on their values and make informed decisions.
Read more about Dr. Tainsky.