Rachel Collins

About Rachel Collins

Rachel is an experienced project manager and Ph.D-trained specialist in visitor use, outdoor recreation planning, and transportation systems design and analysis for the National Park Service. She is an expert at fusing social science research, behavioral theory, and management objectives to inform sustainable, mission-aligned policy and planning decisions. She excels at designing diverse recreation opportunities, optimizing transportation system performance, and developing intentional management strategies that protect park resources while enhancing visitor experiences.She is recognized internationally for creative problem-solving in complex, ill-structured, and wicked planning environments, applying innovative approaches that push the forefront of visitor use and transportation management. Rachel is an award-winning project manager and trusted facilitator, bringing diverse stakeholder groups together to align around project goals and navigate sensitive decision points with confidence. She is passionate about developing and implementing planning processes and products that elevate the visitor experience and promote long-term resource stewardship across America\'s public lands.

Experience

1. Visitor Use Project Manager

   National Park Service

   Apr 2019 — Present · Denver, CO, US

   Advises on, develops, and leads projects that include recreation access, capacity considerations, visitor experience, recreation opportunity, transportation systems performance, and environmental considerations for a variety of types of units. Develops and leads highly complex, controversial, multi-year plans that are at the forefront of creative decision making for the NPS. These plans and projects include highly sensitive planning issues, multi-year phasing, and high visibility and controversy.

Education

• University of Utah

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

  2009 — 2013

• Gordon College

  B.S

  2002 — 2005

• NOLS

  Semester in Patagonia

  2002 — 2002

• Minnesota State University, Mankato

  M.S;

  2006 — 2008

Skills

• Hiking
• Grant Writing
• Philosophy of Religion
• Philosophy of Mind
• Statistical Modeling
• Experiential Education
• Environmental Education
• Higher Education
• Volunteer Management
• Research
• Program Development
• Team Building
• Project Management
• Budgets
• Community Outreach
• Recreation Planning
• Curriculum Design
• Budgeting
• Outdoor Recreation
• Risk Management
• Technical Writing
• Multivariate Statistics
• Methods
• Staff Development
• Curriculum Development
• Teaching
• Writing
• Evaluation
• Program Evaluation