Natalie Ooi

About Natalie Ooi

Natalie Ooi is a Teaching Professor and Director of the Masters of the Environment (MENV) program within which she leads the Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry Specialization. She is also a lead faculty in the online Outdoor Recreation Economy (ORE) Graduate Program. An educator and researcher who specializes in sustainable tourism and recreation, her passion lies in working with industry and communities to prepare the next generation of leaders to contribute to an innovative, resilient and just tourism/outdoor recreation economy. Prior to joining CU Boulder, Natalie was the Director of Tourism Enterprise Programs and Program Director for the Ski Area Management program at Colorado State University. There, she worked closely with the U.S ski industry building collaborative relationships to provide the first-of-its-kind, professional education program for current and future ski area employees. Natalie’s research interests include the sustainability and resilience of tourism destinations, with particular interest in the complexities of tourism-community and other stakeholder relationships within mountain resort communities. Natalie has also worked on research projects that examine key management challenges within public spaces utilized for recreation, barriers to access and use of open space by diverse communities, the sustainability of backpacker tourism and volunteer tourism, and the use of climate change and drought data within the ski industry and how it can help improve business decision-making into the future. Prior to joining academia, Natalie combined her passion for travel and the outdoors through her work as a youth Outdoor Education Leader, Special Projects Officer at a backpacker hostel, outdoor retail employee and ski rental technician. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Natalie permanently moved to Colorado in 2013 after having spent much of the previous five years working and traveling through the American West. Natalie enjoys time with her young family hiking, camping, skiing and exploring the world. Natalie holds a Ph.D in Business and Economics, and a double bachelor’s degree in Sport and Outdoor Recreation/Business and Commerce (major in tourism management)(Hons) from Monash University, Australia.

Experience

1. Teaching Professor, Director

   Cu Boulder Masters Of The Environment Menv Graduate Program

   Aug 2025 — Present

Education

• Monash University

  PhD Business and Economics, Sustainable Tourism

  2013

• Monash University

  Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Honours), Business and Economics

  2008 — 2008

• Monash University

  Bachelor of Business and Commerce/Bachelor of Sport and Outdoor Recreation, Business and Economics/Education

  2003 — 2006

Skills

• Outdoor Education
• Tourism
• Sustainability
• Data Analysis
• Communication
• Marketing
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Ski Resorts
• Research
• Outdoor Recreation
• Teaching
• Event Planning
• Tourism Management
• Sustainable Tourism