Larry Beck
Outdoor Recreation Resource Management
Ph.D., 1987, University of Minnesota (Graduate School of Education)

Larry Beck is Professor and Advisor for the Outdoor Resource Management emphasis. His teaching assignments include conservation education, environmental interpretation, wilderness management, and cross-cultural perspectives of tourism.

An interest in using technology to advance student learning resulted in two educational grants as a Faculty Fellow (People, Information, and Communication Technologies) and Academic Scholar (Universal Design for Learning). Through these grants, Beck designs and teaches blended and distance education courses, and publishes and presents his findings about the effectiveness of online learning.

Professor Beck’s research and writing also addresses optimal experience theory, communication theory, environmental interpretation, and the symbolism and management of protected areas. He has written more than 100 abstracts, articles, research papers, reviews, grants, and technical reports.

The following books are authored or coauthored by Professor Beck: “Interpretation of Cultural and Natural Resources” (2nd Edition, 2003), “Moving Beyond Treeline” (2007), “Interpretive Perspectives” (2010), and “Interpretation for the 21st Century” (3rd Edition, forthcoming, 2011). Earlier editions of the last book are used by the interpretive profession internationally and this book has been translated into Chinese. Beck’s writing has been widely adopted and applied by state and federal agencies including the “NASA-NPS Earth to Sky Project” in which NASA scientists are working with National Park Service interpreters on communicating issues associated with global climate change. In 2009 Beck received the National Association for Interpretation “Meritorious Service Award” for his contributions to the body of knowledge in interpretation.

Professor Beck serves on numerous university committees. He was elected to the University Senate and Senate Executive Committee. He chaired the University Personnel Committee, College Curriculum Committee, College Academic Planning and Policy Committee, and College Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion Committee. He has served as a consultant on various interpretive planning and environmental stewardship projects in the community, and on the executive board of the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation.