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Thomas Stuessy Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Outdoor Studies
Program Director, Adventure Education


Moses Hall 007
One Brennan Circle
Poultney, VT 05764
Email: stuessyt@greenmtn.edu
Phone: 802-287-8326; Fax: 802-287-8080

EDUCATION:
Ph.D. School of HPER Indiana University (2007)
M.S.  Outdoor Rec. Admin. Aurora University (1999)
B.A.  Outdoor Recreation, Western State College (1997)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Clearwater Sports, Waitsfield, VT                (6-10 to 9-10)
Instruct whitewater kayak courses for diverse user groups
 

MICA Guides, Matanuska Galcier Alaska      (7-09 to 9-09)
Led ice climbing trips on the Matanuska Glacier. 
 

Thompson Island Outward Bound. Rock Site Manager (7-07 to 9-07)
Manage all aspects of site management for Thompson Island staff and students at TR climbing site.

Outdoor Leadership Trainer/Contractor (3-07 to present)
Wilderness Education Association Certifying Instructor. Colleges, Guide services and private group instruction. Backpacking, rock & ice climbing & kayaking.

Owner/Operator, Know the Earth Institute (8-05 to 3-07)
Manage all phases of a professional guide service. Primary activities are rock and ice climbing. www.endeavorvermont.com

Program Coordinator, Indiana University Outdoor Adventures (9-99 to 9-01)
Managed 45 student trip staff, 4 gear staff, 8,000 item rental shop and retail shop. Responsible for staff training, supervision and advising, budgets, risk management and marketing.

Ice, Rock, & Whitewater Guide, Vermont Adventure Tours (10-03 to 9-08)
Guide on both rock and ice for a variety of user groups. Trips include basic ice & rock skill instruction, basic anchor building clinics, and rappelling workshops. Guide multiple rivers in New England for various user groups.

Editorial Assistant, Journal of Experiential Education (9-02 to 8-03)
Handled day-to-day operations for the journal. Duties included receiving and processing manuscripts for review. In addition, handled extensive author and reviewer communications.

Associate Executive Director, Wilderness Education Association (2-01 to 9-02)
Worked with 40 affiliates as well as the board of trustees on projects such as budget development, media and advertising and course development. Served as national conference chair, 2002.

Graduate Assistantship, Indiana University School of HPER (8-00 to 5-02)
Served as a graduate assistant on the Adventure Recreation Cache project on the Institute of Outdoor Leadership and Education web site. Duties included researching empirically based adventure articles and cataloging them into the Cache for the general public to access. In addition, served as the supervisor of two graduate students conducting similar research.

Director, Wilderness Orientation Indiana University Orientation Programs (9-99 to 9-02)
Developed Indiana University’s Wilderness Orientation Program, which included 8 trips in 2000, 9 trips in 2001 & 7 trips in 2002. Developed all programming and conducted staff hiring, training, and evaluation.

Director, Wilderness Based Orientation, Western State College (5-99 to 9-99)
Developed wilderness orientation program for incoming freshman. Included all program development, faculty recruitment, follow-up experiences, and evaluation.

Adventure Coordinator Assistant, Camp Algonquin (9-98 to 5-99)
Facilitated high and low ropes course elements, as well as cultural diversity programs for a wide variety of user groups as part of graduate assistantship. Averaged 25 different user groups a month for 9 months.

Outdoor Programming Coordinator, Park District of Oak Park (2-98 to 9-98)
Developed new outdoor program for the community that included team building, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, and canoeing. Hired and trained all staff, managed budgets, and executed marketing and risk management plans as well as guided all trips.

SELECT COURSES TAUGHT:
Outdoor Prog. Design and Mgt.
Human Dimensions of Adventure Prog.
Outdoor Leadership Practicum
Mgt. of Outdoor & Adventure Programs
The Wilderness Education Association, NSP
Outdoor Living Skills
Introduction to Outdoor Studies
Rock and Ice Climbing
Foundations of Adventure
Whitewater Kayaking
Orienteering

SELECT PUBLICATIONS:
Stuessy, T., Harding, J. and Anderson, J. (2009). Perception of Environmental Ethic and Method of Introduction to Rock Climbing: The Impacts of Synthetic Climbing on Natural Resources Management.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership. Vol. 1 (1).

Stuessy, T. (2002). “Writing and Revising Your Program Manual.” The Outdoor Network, Vol. XIII (4).

Stuessy, T. & Stock, R. (2002). “Developing Your Risk Management Philosophy.” In, P. Joyce & R. Poff 15th International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education: ICORE 2001 Conference Proceedings Bloomington, IL: Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education.

Poff, R. A., Calvin, D. A., & Stuessy, T. (2002). “Outdoor programs and academic departments working together: Examining the costs and benefits of offering for-credit recreation hard skills courses.” In, P. Joyce & R. Poff 15th International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education: ICORE 2001 Conference Proceedings. (pp. 16-27). Bloomington, IL: Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education.

BOOK CHAPTERS:
Stuessy, T. & Kascenska, J. (2009). Ice Climbing Instructional Techniques in, Outdoor Adventure Technical Skills: A Curriculum Guide. Human Kinetics.

Stuessy, T. & Saxman, B. (n.d.). Outdoor Staff Training techniques & Designs in, Outdoor Recreation Program Administration: Essentials for the Professional. Human Kinetics.

SELECT SYMPOSIUM PRESENATATIONS: (peer reviewed)
Stuessy, T., Harding, J., & Poff, R. (2005). Edgeworking and Ice Climbing Participation. Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Research Symposium. 19th AORE Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, October 27-29, 2005, Buffalo, NY.

Poff, R., Stenger, T. & Stuessy, T. (2005). The current status of nonprofit outdoor recreation programs in the U.S. 2005 Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Research Symposium. 19th AORE Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, October 27-29, 2005, Buffalo, NY.

RESEARCH ABSTRACT: (Peer Reviewed)
Stuessy, T., Harding, J., & Poff, R. (2005). Edgeworking and Ice Climbing Participation. Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Research Symposium. 19th AORE Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, October 27-29, 2005, Buffalo, NY.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS: (peer reviewed)
Harding, J., Stuessy, T., & Sams, K. (2005). “Perception of Environmental Responsibility Among New England Climbers” Presented at the 17th Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. April 10-12, 2005

SELECT PRESENTATIONS:

Stuessy, T. & Dawson, R. (2009). Pink Elephants Part II: Rethinking the Value of Undergradate Outdoor Leadership Education. Assocaition of Outdoor Recreation and Education. Minneapolis, MN.
 
Poff, R. & Stuessy, T. (2008). Retailers, Vendors and Outdoor Recreation Programs: Fostering Effective Relationships and Increasing Recreation Participation. The Outdoor Retailer Show. January 25, 2008. Salt Lake City, UT.

Stuessy, T. & Nicolazzo, P. (2007). Pink Elephants: Curriculum or industry trained? 21st Annual Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education conference. November 1-3, 2007. Asheville, NC.

Stuessy, T. & Saxman, B. (2006). Utilizing the WEA curriculum to build stronger connections between academic and non-academic programs. Submitted to the AORE 20th annual conference. Boise, ID.

Stuessy, T. & Hobbs, W. (2004). “Environmental Ethics and the WEA 18-Point Curriculum.” Presented at Wilderness Education Association’s National Conference on Outdoor Leadership. Bradford Woods Martinsville, Indiana. February 5-6, 2004.

Stuessy, T. & Calvin, D. (2002). “Outdoor Programs and Academic Recreation Programs – Working Together.” Presented at the Wilderness Education Association’s National Conference on Outdoor Leadership, Bradford Woods, Indiana. February 7-9, 2002.

Stuessy, T. (2001). “Writing College Outdoor Field Manuals.” Presented at the International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, Pocatello, Idaho. November 7-9, 2001.

Stuessy, T. & Stock, R. (2001). “Developing Your Risk Management Philosophy.” Presented at the International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, Pocatello, Idaho. November 7-9, 2001.

Poff, R. A., Calvin, D., & Stuessy, T. (2001). “Outdoor Programs and Academic Recreation Programs – Working Together.” Presented at the International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, Pocatello, Idaho. November 7-9, 2001.

Stuessy, T. (1999). “Developing a Model for a Wilderness Orientation Program.” Presented at the Association of Experiential Education Heartland Conference, Hudson, Wisconsin. March 19-21, 1999.

Stuessy, T. (1998). “Proposal to Develop a Wilderness Orientation Program and Outings Program.” Presented at Western State College of the University of Montana, Dillon, Montana. December 19, 1998.

CAMPUS SERVICE:

Co-chaired on campus job fair 2009-present

Chair, search committee, department colleague, summer 2008

Faculty Colloquium, “Utilizing the outdoor classroom for non-adventure education” 2007

Search committee member, department Chair, 2003-2004

Chair, search committee, Director of Adventure Programming, Fall 2004

Search committee member, Department colleague, Fall 2005

Developed on campus ice-climbing wall, 2003 to present

Chair, Internal Review Board, Green Mountain College, Spring 2004 to Present

Academic Standards Committee Member, Green Mountain College, Fall 2005 to Present

Developed a training program for non-adventure faculty utilizing the outdoors as a classroom

Designed new Adventure Recreation Curriculum, implemented fall 2007.


INTERNAL MANUSCRIPTS:
Course guides for two field based courses - Outdoor prog. design and mgt & May course.

Stuessy, T. (2008). “Adventure Education Student handbook” at Green Mountain College.

Stuessy, T. & Rec. 4010, (2006). “Utilizing the outdoor classroom for non-adventure based curriculum at Green Mountain College: A critical assessment of risk and risk management.”

Stuessy, T & Voos, J. (2006). “Ice Wall Policies and Procedures” and “Ice Wall Staff Training” manuals.

Stuessy, T. & Dolson, S. (2006). A comparative analysis of collegiate academic outdoor leadership programs in New England and New York.

SPECIAL STUDENT PROJECTS:

Writing an operations and staff manual for the campus ice wall 2005-2006

Producing decision making/leadership vignettes, spring 2007

Student research project focused on rock climbing and sustainability presented at the Student Colloquium 2005

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

Served as a consultant to the Rutland, Vermont City Park & Recreation Department’s Outdoor Expeditions staff training manual, 2008

Advised the writing of the Rock and Ice Guide manual – Vermont Adventure Tours, 2006

Wrote staff training manual for community kayak programming

Service learning projects with Fair Haven & Poultney Schools, 2005-2007

Elementary School after school activities program, 2003

After school rock climbing program on campus wall, 2004

Outdoor living skills series for Fair Haven Elementary School, 2005

Collaboration with Poultney High School leadership team, 2005

Collaboration with Poultney Elementary School, ropes course programming, 2003 & 2005


PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
Executive Director search committee, AORE, 2010.

Vice President, Association of Outdoor Recreation & Education 2007-2008.

Co-chair & founding member of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership, 2004 to present.

Presentation reviewer, 21st annual conference, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (2007).

Member, Presenter Relations Committee Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (2007).

Co-Chair, Text Editor Selection Committee, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (2007).

Board of Directors Member, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education.

Student Literary Award submission reviewer, 2006.

Chair, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education - Research Symposium, Boise 2006.

Research and Publication Committee member, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, 2002 to present.

Student Literary Award Judge, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, 2006

Young Professional Panel, International Conference of Outdoor Recreation and Education, Oxford, Ohio. November 9-12, 2000.

Student Development Committee, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, (2001)

Chair, Student Committee, Leadership Quest Conference, Indiana University. February 10, 2001.

Chair, National Conference on Outdoor Leadership, Wilderness Education Association, Bradford Woods, Martinsville, IN. February 7-9, 2002.

Reviewer, Journal of Experiential Education 2003 to present.

Advisory Board, Journal of Experiential Education. October, 2003 to present.

Reviewer, SCHOLE A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education. 2004 to present.

International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education’s Research Symposium committee member, 2005.

Wilderness Education Association, Curriculum Standards committee member, 2005, 2006.

Advisory Board member, Journal of Outdoor Education and Recreation.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS:

WEA Dr. Frank Lupton Significant Contribution Award, 2010.

Best New Student Program at Indiana University awarded for the Wilderness Orientation Program, 2001.

Significant Contributor Award, Wilderness Education Association, 2004.

Faculty of the Year finalist, Green Mountain College, 2003-2004

Faculty of the Year, Green Mountain College, 2004-2005

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS:

Wilderness First Responder

American Canoe Association, Whitewater Kayaking Instructor

American Canoe Association Basic Kayaking & Canoeing Instructor Trainer

Nantahala Outdoor Center, Swift Water Rescue

American Mountain Guide Association, Top Rope Instructor

Wilderness Education Association, Certifying Instructor

Leave no Trace Trainer

Maine State Licensed Guide

New York State Licensed Guide

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education

American Canoe Association

American Whitewater Association

Wilderness Education Association

Association of Experiential Education

American Mountain Guide Association

Vermont Outdoor Guides Association

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