EDUCATION Curriculum Vitae Mercedes M. Hunt Old Dominion University Park, Recreation and Tourism Studies Department of Human Movement Sciences 1318 Milton St Norfolk, VA 23505 (310) 408-8855 mercedes.hunt@utah.edu 2017 Doctor of Philosophy (Dissertation status: Complete and the university is processing the final document) University of Utah Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Emphasis: Sustainability in Events and Tourism Dissertation Title: Employees Perceptions of Sustainability Programs: A Multiple US Convention Center Case Study Advisor: Dr. Kelly Bricker 2010 Master of Science San Francisco State University Department of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Emphasis: Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism Thesis Title: Addressing Climate Change: Conventional Resorts Tackle the Need to Go Green Advisor: Dr. Patrick Tierney 2005 Bachelor of Science California State University, Northridge Leisure Studies and Recreation Emphasis: Event Coordination, Hospitality and Aquatics Advisor: Dr. Craig Finney LANGUAGES Spoken- Fluent/ Written- Fluent Spoken- Fluent/ Written- Professional Working Proficiency Spoken- Fluent/ Written- Professional Working Proficiency Professional Working Proficiency English Portuguese Spanish American Sign Language 1 Page
TEACHING EXPERIENCE 2017 Lecturer PRTS 475 Sustainable Tourism 2017 Lecturer PRTS 406 Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education 2017 Lecturer PRTS 271 Introduction to Tourism Management 2017 Lecturer PRTS 251 Introduction to Parks and Recreation 2015 Instructor PRT 3610 The Global Citizen: Responsible Travel and International Life (Online Course) 2015 Guest Lectures Integrated Core, Planning Successful Events, PRT 3440 Entrepreneurial Recreation, Sustainability in Business 2015 Instructor PRT 3620 Foundations of Tourism 2015 Co-Instructor PRT 3630 Group Travel and Management 2014 Instructor PRT 3610 The Global Citizen: Responsible Travel and International Life (Online Course) 2014 Guest Lecture PRT 7055 Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism Development, Introduction to Ecotourism 2013 Guest Lecture Integrated Core, Planning Successful Events 2011 Teaching Team Integrated Core: PRT 3100 Foundation of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; PRT 3101 Professional Preparation in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; PRT 3310 Leisure Behavior and Human Diversity; Programming and Leadership in PRT; PRT 3780 Program and Service Evaluation 2010 Instructor RPT 160 Introduction to Small Boat Sailing 2010 Teaching Assistant RPT 605 Ecotourism Principles and Practices 2009 2011 Guest Lectures - RPT 390 Leisure Travel and Tourism, Introduction to Ecotourism, Accommodations and Cruise Lines" RPT 460 Destination Recreation Resorts, Resorts and Sustainability 2 Page
RPT 605 Ecotourism Principles and Practices, Local Ecotourism Initiatives, Local Ecotourism Case Studies, Certification and Accreditation, "Green Lodging and 'Eco-resorts'" RPT 730 Foundations of Leisure, Attention Restoration Theory RPT 862 Management of Leisure Services, Ethical Decision Making in Management CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT 2017 PRTS 475 Sustainable Tourism 2017 PRTS 406 Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education 2017 PRTS 271 Introduction to Tourism Management 2017 PRTS 251 Introduction to Parks and Recreation 2015 PRT 3620 Foundations of Tourism 2015 PRT 3630 Group Travel and Management 2014 PRT 5495 Business of Government and Nonprofits in PRT 2011 Integrated Core: PRT 3100 Foundation of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; PRT 3101 Professional Preparation in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; PRT 3310 Leisure Behavior and Human Diversity; Programming and Leadership in PRT; PRT 3780 Program and Service Evaluation 2011 RPT 605 Ecotourism Principles and Practices 2010 RPT 160 Introduction to Small Boat Sailing INVITED PRESENTATIONS Hunt, M., Brooks, J., Finnie Robinson, S. (2017, August 16). Raising the bar: Strategies for engaging staff in sustainability initiatives [Webinar]. In Green Sports Alliance Webinar Series. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/229895033 Hunt, M. (2015) Os Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) e as ferramentas para sua efetivação (Sustainable Development Goals and the Tools for their Achievement). 3 Conferência Internacional de Direito Ambiental (3rd International Conference of Environmental Law), Campo Grande, Brazil, September 4-5. (Keynote Speaker) Hunt, M. (2014). Conferencia de Ecoturismo e Turismo Sustentável [Radio interview]. Bonito FM 98.9. Bonito, Brazil, April 27. (Presenter) PRESENTATIONS Hunt, M. (2017). Employee perceptions of sustainability programs in US convention centers. International Association of Venue Managers, Nashville, TN, August 7-10, 2017. (Planned presentation) 3 Page
Hunt, M. (2016). Sustainability in convention centers: Development, implementation and challenges and the role of the employee. Experience Industry Management Research Retreat, Provo, UT, April 28. (Presenter) Hunt, M., & Moller Rivas, J. (2015). Implementing Sustainability Within the MICE Industry. Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference, Quito, Ecuador, April 27-30. (Presenter) Hunt, M., & Altschuler, B. (2012). Achieving the Group Goals: A Qualitative Assessment of Collective Efficacy, Group Dynamics and Event Planning. The Journey Begins: PRT Graduate Student Research Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, March 30. (Co-presenter) Látková, P., & Hunt, M. (2011). California Welcome Center Visitor Satisfaction. California Society of Park and Recreation Educators Annual Conference, Pacific Grove, CA, November 16-18. (Co-author) Hunt, M. (2011). Addressing Climate Change: Resorts Tackle the Need to Go Green. Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference, Hilton Head Island, NC, September 19-21. (Poster Presentation) Tierney, P., & Hunt, M. (2010). Do Travelers Support Green Practices and Sustainable Development. Resorts and Commercial Recreation National Conference, Sunriver, OR, November 6-9. (Co-presenter) Látková, P., & Hunt, M. (2009). Sustainable Practices: Examples from Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Organizations in the Bay Area. CPRS District IV Bay Area Summit, San Jose, CA, November 6. (Co-presenter) Hunt, M., & Schopp, B. (2006). Program presentation. Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners. San Pedro, CA, March 22. Presentation can be viewed at: http://www.portoflosangeles.org/commission/videos.asp (Co-presenter) EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 2017 Lecturer Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 2015 Instructor University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 2011 2015 Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 2013 2014 Managing Director The International Ecotourism Society Salt Lake City, UT 4 Page
2011 2014 Events Director The International Ecotourism Society Salt Lake City, UT 2009 2011 Graduate Research Assistant San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA 2008 2010 Sailing Program Coordinator/ Head Instructor SFSU Community Sailing Program San Francisco, CA 2010 Sailing Instructor Treasure Island Sailing Center San Francisco, CA 2006 2008 Aquatics Director Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club San Pedro, CA 2005 2006 Special Events Consultant Classic Party Rentals El Segundo, CA 2004 2005 Sailing Instructor UCLA Marina Aquatic Center Marina Del Rey, CA 2003 2005 Sailing Instructor and Student Lifeguard CSUN Aquatic Center Castaic, CA 2004 Sailing Instructor Southwestern Yacht Club San Diego, CA SERVICE 2017 Present Volunteer, Virginia State Prisons SYDA Foundation, Prison Project Norfolk, VA 2017 Present Member, Sustainability Committee International Association of Venue Managers 2016 Present Member, Facility Doctor Writing Team International Association of Venue Managers 2012 2017 Volunteer, Draper and Wasatch Prisons SYDA Foundation, Prison Project Salt Lake City, UT 2011 2017 Member/ Volunteer, Graduate Student Advisory Committee University of Utah Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Salt Lake City, UT 5 Page
2014 2016 Events Consultant, Advisor The International Ecotourism Society Salt Lake City, UT 2011 2013 Member/ Volunteer, Sustainability Student Committee University of Utah, Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Salt Lake City, UT 2011 Volunteer, Pow Wow U.S. Travel Association, San Francisco, CA 2010 Registration Volunteer, Beach Clean-up and Kayak Day America True, San Francisco, CA 2009-2010 Community Sailing Program Coordinator San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 2008-2010 Chair, Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Student Social Committee San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 2008 Guest Writer, Newsletter San Francisco Bay Chapter of the National Speleological Association, Menlo Park, CA 2008 Assistant, Empire Cave Cleanup San Francisco Bay Chapter of the National Speleological Association, Menlo Park, CA 2008 Volunteer Crew Member, TopSail Youth Program Los Angeles Maritime Institute, San Pedro, CA 2007 2008 Teen and Young Adult Programs Coordinator Siddha Yoga Meditation Center, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, CA 2003 2008 Founder President/ Coach, CSU Northridge Sailing Team California State University, Northridge, CA 2005 2006 Consultant, Channel Islands Sailing Team California State University, Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA 2004 Coordinator MOSAIC, Northridge, CA 2003 Assistant Therapeutic Living Center for the Blind, Reseda, CA 6 Page
2001 2008 Program Emcee Siddha Yoga Meditation Center, Los Angeles 2001 2003 Teen and Young Adult Programs Coordinator Siddha Yoga Meditation Center, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, CA SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS 2017 Venue Management School Internship Recipient International Association of Venue Management Foundation 2017 JUST Scholar at Living Future unconference 2017 International Living Future Institute 2016 Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship + Internship Recipient for VenueConnect International Association of Venue Management Foundation 2016 Dr. Gary D. Ellis Scholarship Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah 2015 PCMA Education Conference Scholarship Professional Convention Management Association 2015 Dr. Anthony Simone Endowed Scholarship Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah 2014-2015 University Teaching Assistant Scholarship (Tuition waiver and stipend) University of Utah Graduate School 2011-2014 Graduate Assistant Scholarship (Tuition waiver and stipend) University of Utah Graduate School and The International Ecotourism Society 2011 University Teaching Assistant Scholarship (Tuition waiver and stipend) University of Utah Graduate School 2011 IRA Student Travel Award San Francisco State University College of Health and Human Services 2010 Resort and Commercial Recreation Association Conference Scholarship Resort and Commercial Recreation Association 2010 California Sustainable Tourism Summit Scholarship Department of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism at San Francisco State University 7 Page
2010 California Travel Industry Association Conference Scholarship California Travel Industry Association 2010 SF Convention and Visitor Bureau Foundation Conference Scholarship San Francisco Convention and Visitor s Bureau Foundation 2006 Certificate of Appreciation Los Angeles Zoo GRANTS 2012 Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund Submitted to the University of Utah Office of Sustainability $7,184 (Funded) 2007 Youth and Career Development: Water Skills, Youth Sailing and Equipment Grant Submitted to the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners. $50,000 (Funded) 2006 Youth and Career Development: Water Skills, Youth Sailing and Equipment Grant Submitted to the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners. $87,000 (Funded) RESEARCH PROJECTS 2014 Research Assistant, 2014 Various projects Supervised by Dr. Kelly Bricker 2013 Researcher Project: A Qualitative Shadowing Method of Analyzing Front Line Hotel Systems. Developed proposal, collected data and wrote a report of the findings. Supervised by Dr. Jeffrey Rose 2011 Independent Contractor Project: Focus Group Tourism Feasibility Study of the Conejo Valley, CA Developed protocol, recruited participants, found a facilitator, analyzed results and wrote report. STM Consulting, Los Angeles, CA 2010-2011 Research Assistant Project: Green Practices in the Tourism Industry: Providers and Consumers Perspectives 8 Page
Helping to compose a research article based on the findings presented at the Resort and Commercial Recreation Association Conference at Sunriver, OR in November 2010. Supervised by Dr. Patrick Tierney. 2010-2011 Research Assistant, Project: California Travel and Tourism Commission Visitor Survey Planning to help development and implement a survey, provide data analysis and to write a quarterly technical report to provide information about visitors perceptions of traveling in California. Supervised by Dr. Pavlina Latkova. 2009 2010 Research Assistant, Project: Sustainable Practices: Examples from Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Organizations in the Bay Area Researched case study examples of current sustainable practices being used by parks, recreation and tourism organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Supervised by Dr. Pavlina Latkova. 2009 Research Assistant Project: California Welcome Center Visitor Attitudes Towards Green Eco- Friendly Products and Services in the Travel Industry and Purchase/Use of These. Aided in writing the executive summary. Supervised by Dr. Patrick Tierney. Spring 2004 Project Coordinator Project: California College Sailor Survey Collected data to understand the needs of California College Sailors and their satisfaction with the boats used for competitions. Supervised by Dr. Craig Finney. INVITED BOOK CONTRIBUTIONS Hunt, M. & Bricker, K. (2015). Theoretical perspectives on systems and sustainability. In K. Bricker, & H. Donohoe (Eds.), Theoretical Tourism Research: Demystifying Theories. Oxon, UK: CABI. PUBLICATIONS Ramón González Herrera, M. & Hunt, M. (2017). Local communities perceptions of tourism development models: A multi-country comparative case study. Manuscript in preparation. 9 Page
Hunt, M. & Bricker, K. (2017). Employee perceptions of planning, implementation and challenges of convention center sustainability programs: A multiple case study. Manuscript in preparation. Hunt, M. & Bricker, K. (2017). The role of the employee in convention center sustainability programs: A multiple case study. Manuscript in preparation. Hunt, M. (2016, Fall). Lessons learned from successful convention center sustainability programs. Facility Manager Magazine, pp. 44-47. International Association of Venue Managers, Bricker, K. & Hunt, M. (2014). Ecotourism outlook 2014. Travel and Tourism Research Association: 2014 Outlook Marketing Forum, Atlanta, GA. Tierney, P., Hunt, M., & Látková, P. (2012). Do travelers support green practices and sustainable development?. Journal of Tourism Insights, 2(2), Article 5. (1,345 current downloads) Hunt, M. M. (2011). Addressing Climate Change: Conventional Resorts Tackle the Need to Go Green (Unpublished master s thesis). San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA. INVITED REVIEWER 2017 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (article review) 2017 Journal of Parks and Recreation Administration (article review) 2017 Sustainability (article review) 2014 Journal of Tourism Insights (article review) 2013 Journal of Tourism Insights (article review) 2012 Journal of Tourism Insights (article review) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2017 International Association of Venue Managers VenueConnect August 7-10 2017 Venue Management School Wheeling, WV, June 3-9 2017 Living Future unconference Seattle, WA, May 16-19 2016 International Association of Venue Managers VenueConnect Minneapolis, MN, July 22-25 2016 Experience Industry Management Conference Provo, UT, March 28-30 2016 Women s Leadership Summit Salt Lake City, UT, February 17 2015 PCMA Education Conference Fort Lauderdale, FL, June 16-17 10 Page
2015 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference Quito, Ecuador, April 27-30 2014 EIBTM Barcelona Barcelona, Spain, November 16-19 2014 IMEX America Las Vegas, NV, October 14-16 2014 Online Teaching Workshop Salt Lake City, UT, August 20 2014 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference Bonito, Brazil, April 26-30 2013 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference Nairobi, Kenya, September 27-30 2013 IMEX America Las Vegas, NV, October 15-17 2012 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference Monterey, CA, September 17-19 2012 Connect Marketplace New Orleans, LA, August 16-18 2011 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference Hilton Head Island, SC, September 19-21 2011 Travel Industry Association (TIA) International Pow Wow San Francisco, CA, May 21-25 2010 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference Portland, OR, September 8-10 2010 Resort and Commercial Recreation Association Conference Sunriver, OR, November 7-10 2010 California Parks and Recreation Association Conference Santa Clara, CA, March 2010 2009 California Sustainable Tourism Summit Lake Tahoe, CA, October 14-15 2009 SF Convention and Visitor Bureau Foundation Conference San Francisco, CA, July 6 2009 CPRS District IV Bay Area Summit San Jose, CA, November 6 2009 National Parks and Recreation Association Conference Salt Lake City, UT, October 13-16 11 Page
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS 2016 Present The International Ecotourism Club (Ecoclub) 2016 Present Meeting Professionals International (MPI) 2015 Present International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Volunteer 2016-Present, Facility Doctors Writing Team 2017-Present, Member of Sustainability Committee 2017-Present 2015 2016 Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) 2014 Present Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) 2014 2017 American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) 2013 Present Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) 2011 2016 University of Utah PRT Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) Volunteer 2011-2016 2011 2013 University of Utah PRT Sustainability Committee Volunteer 2011-2013 2010 2011 The International Ecotourism Club (Ecoclub) 2009 2016 The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) Volunteer 2013-2016 2009 2012 Resorts and Commercial Recreation Association (RCRA) Volunteer 2011 2009 2011 National Recreation and Parks Association 2009 2011 National Speleological Society (San Francisco Bay Grotto) Volunteer 2009-2011 2008 2010 California Parks and Recreation Society 2003 2011 United States Sailing Association 2003 2008 CSU Northridge Sailing Club and Team Founder and Captain 2003-2005, Volunteer 2005-2008 2002 2005 Recreation Majors Association, CSUN 12 Page