College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Community Sustainability

However you like to recreate outdoors in any park in any season, whether it be walk, run, roll, ski, bike, or something else, you might not realize the work that goes into making that recreational opportunity possible. One of those pieces is the extensive planning parks managers need to do to best serve the community and make sure that park can be a great resource well into the future. Dr. Bess Perry, Director of the Parks Connection Lab at Michigan State University, does research and community-engaged work on sustainable parks recreation that supports park management and has resulted in numerous benefits for communities here in Michigan and around the U.S.

In 2024, Perry's research team received the United States Forest Service Chief's Honors award, which recognizes the accomplishments of research teams for their contributions to the communities they serve. Perry's commitment to excellent extends beyond her research to her teaching and work with students. In 2025, Perry received the CANR Excellence in Teaching award, an honor from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to acknowledge highly effective educators. In the same year she also received the MSU Teacher Scholar award, which highlights recipients excellence in all facets of a faculty members professional responsibilities- teaching, research, and outreach. Additionally, Perry work extensively with students in all of her research endeavors, providing invaluable mentoring opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students alike to help shape the future of parks recreation.

The interview below shares Perry's pathway to the amazing career she has built in the world of sustainable parks and recreation and her reflections on the impact of her work.

Name:

Bess Perry

Departmental Home:

Department of Community Sustainability

Title:

Assistant Professor of Protected Areas and Natural Resources Recreation Management; Director of the Park Connections Lab

What year did you join MSU?

2020

Educational History:

BS in Natural Resources Ecology – Conservation Biology, University of Idaho

MS in Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University

PhD in Natural Resources, University of Vermont

Postdoc at Clemson University, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management

Why did you choose to pursue your area of interest or field of study?

I have always wanted to work in an environmental field. Early on, I was drawn to the work of naturalists and my path went toward ecology. After working with the National Park Service for a while, my interests shifted based on questions piqued in the field and I gravitated toward the social science of parks and recreation. It’s a great fit for me, as I enjoy studying these settings and activities almost as much as I like participating in them!

What is something exciting you’re currently working on in your capacity in the department?

I’m currently working on a set of projects focused on the social dimensions of mountain biking, particularly how growing trail networks shape both visitor experiences and local community wellbeing. One of these is funded by USDA AFRI, which I’m leading, called “Switching Gears toward Recreation: Research to Support Management of Mountain Biking Amenities and Impacts in Rural Northern Forest Communities”. Using multiple formats (surveys, interviews, spatial analysis, on-site visitor engagement, and relevant collaborations) and cases from Maine to Michigan, my research team is examining how different groups perceive trail development, tourism pressures, community identity, and recreation access. This work is especially exciting because it directly informs how communities can plan for sustainable outdoor recreation amenities that balance high-quality rider experiences with local priorities, environmental stewardship, and long-term community resilience. We’ll develop a guidebook from this work (among more academic contributions) to help communities considering, developing, maintaining, and retiring trail amenities to help them understand the broader picture of impacts as they decide on a path forward.

What’s the best part about your job here in CSUS?

I love getting to know our students and supporting their goals. We work with students who hold a stewardship ethos and want to move our actions in that direction – what could be better?! I direct the Park Connections Lab, which typically has a dozen undergraduate and graduate scholars at any time. Working intensely with undergraduate students on their first research endeavors and co-creating a lab community has been so fulfilling. I also really enjoy teaching courses for the same reason. I can get passionate about any content (and presenting it!), but the conversations and engaged learning with students is the most invigorating part.

What is one of the most impactful things you’ve done as a scholar at MSU?

One of the most impactful projects I’ve led at MSU has been helping the Huron-Clinton Metroparks develop their first-ever climate action plan (www.metroparks.com/climate-action-plan). This is the first such plan for any regional park system of its kind. Our efforts were truly community-engaged research: we worked closely with park managers, staff across all 13 Metroparks, and regional partners and community members to ensure that scientific insights were grounded in on-the-ground realities and managerial practicalities. The process included extensive community engagement within southeast Michigan (see image right of a community meeting), embedding parks more deeply into regional wellbeing and climate resilience efforts. We incorporated data representing the voices of over 4,500 stewards of these places and experiences! The plan has been implemented for three years now, and they’re seeing measurable successes across the system. Fourteen students have contributed to this project and continue to work with the data it generated, making it not only a meaningful contribution to regional climate action, but also a powerful learning experience for the next generation of sustainability professionals.

Who is an influential or inspiring person in your life or career?

Dr. Daniel Sarr, who was my supervisor in the National Park Service and has sadly since passed on, has been a major influence on the path that I’ve taken. Conversations with him and his consistent investment in my success helped me to find my way toward the science I do today.

When you’re not working, what do you do?

When I’m not working, I love being outside – trail running, walking my dog, exploring parks and trails with my family, and just generally rejuvenating in natural spaces. Other than that, I’m an avid reader and love many forms of crafting.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve received is to “follow the energy.” Work on the questions, collaborations, and communities that genuinely excite you, because that’s where your best contributions will come from. It’s a reminder that meaningful scholarship is built through curiosity, connection, and sustained joy.

Do you have any thoughts or advice to share with students?

Stay curious, be creative, play outside, and ask harder questions than you think you're “allowed” to. And give yourself permission to explore, as the most fulfilling career paths in sustainability often emerge from unexpected intersections and encounters.