David W. K.

About David W. K.

Dubbed “Mr. Positivity” by colleagues (but without the coffee mug to prove it), David has developed a unique transnational skillset around luxury travel, sustainability and higher education while living and working in the U.S, Thailand, Spain, the Philippines, Peru, and China. He has helped direct successful international programs through administration, teaching, and research to engage diverse groups and partner organizations. As an environmental social scientist, his travel and consulting projects center on international development and indigenous rights associated with UN World Heritage sites, National Parks, Chinese tourism, marine protected areas, and rural communities. David hopes to continue engaging and empowering diverse communities at home and abroad through meaningful outreach, student recruitment/retention, advising, teaching, and research activities. Research Overview - Google Scholar & hl=en) Co-Director - U.S-China Lab for Destination Development (https://sites.warnercnr.colostate.edu/csu-uschinatourismlab/)

Experience

1. Environmental Social Scientist

   Central China Normal University

   Jan 2019 — Present · Wuhan, CN

   Consultant on successful international graduate program (College of Urban / Environmental Science)-Ongoing research collaborator (UNESCO World Heritage, National Parks, sustainable tourism)-Lecturer / keynote speaker

Education

• Colorado State University

  PhD, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources

  2011 — 2015

• Purdue University

  BA, Spanish (Biology Minor); Phi Beta Kappa (inducted junior year)

  1997 — 2001

• University of Colorado Boulder

  MA, Education

  2003 — 2005