Elizabeth Halpenny, PhD

Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation - Academic Programs
Associate Dean, Graduate, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation - Academic Programs - Graduate

Pronouns: she/her

Personal Website: https://sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/ehalpenny-sust-tourism?usp=sharing

Contact

Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation - Academic Programs
Email
halpenny@ualberta.ca
Address
2-130G University Hall
8840 114 St NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 2J9

Associate Dean, Graduate, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation - Academic Programs - Graduate
Email
halpenny@ualberta.ca

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

pro-environmental behavior; sustainability; tourism; protected areas; recreation


About

Degrees
PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies - University of Waterloo (2006)
Master’s in Environmental Studies - York University  (2000)
BA in Geography - Wilfrid Laurier University (1992) 

Background
Previous to entering full time employment in academia, Dr. Halpenny worked with an international NGO, The International Ecotourism Society (2000-2005) as Research and Workshop Coordinator. This position entailed travel around the world assisting entrepreneurs and government agencies develop ecotourism infrastructure and programs.


Research

Dr. Halpenny conducts research in the areas of tourism, marketing, environmental psychology, and protected areas management.

Current projects include:
a) Examining the use, acceptance and impact of mobile digital technologies on tourists (i.e., festival patrons and protected area visitors);
b) Investigating the impact of World Heritage designation and other park-related brands on travel decision making;
c) Exploring individuals’ attitudes towards and stewardship of natural areas (most recently she conducted an examination of Edmontonian’s attachment to, recreation in, and stewardship of the North Saskatchewan River Valley); and,
d) Documenting children’s access to nature as a place to play and the outcomes that arise from these activities.  


Teaching

Dr. Halpenny current supervises 5 PhD students and 1 Master’s student. She teaches the following graduate and undergraduate courses:
•    RLS 232 Marketing for Sport, Recreation and Tourism
•    RLS 452/541 Parks Management, Planning and Maintenance/ Parks and Protected Areas: Planning and Management of Natural and Cultural Heritage
•    RLS 463 Issues in Tourism Development

Courses

KSR 582 - Graduate Seminar: A Seminar in Current Factors, Problems and Issues

Note: Credit will be granted for only one of KSR 582, KRLS 582 or PERLS 582.


RLS 463 - Issues in Tourism Development

Critical issues in tourism development will be examined within the context of tourism transformation models and fundamental development concepts such as commodification, authenticity, globalization, sense of place, economic impact, socio-cultural impact and environmental impact. NOTE: Field Trips are an integral and required component of this course. Requires payment of additional student instructional support fees. Refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations section of the Calendar. Prerequisite: RLS 263.


Browse more courses taught by Elizabeth Halpenny

Featured Publications

Sung Bum Chun, Elizabeth A. Halpenny, Justin Y. Jeon, Chul Won Lee

Leisure Sciences. 2025 January; 10.1080/01490400.2022.2069614


Steven E. Mock, Elizabeth Halpenny, Rebecca Koroll, Clara Jane Blye, Paul F. J. Eagles, Dylan Flannery, Chris Lemieux, Sean Doherty

Journal of Ecotourism. 2023 January; 10.1080/14724049.2022.2076858


Jill Bueddefeld, Julie Ostrem, Michelle Murphy, Elizabeth Halpenny, Brian Orr

Environmental Education Research. 2022 April; 10.1080/13504622.2022.2045905


Glen T. Hvenegaard, Elizabeth A. Halpenny, Jill N. H. Bueddefeld

Land. 2021 March; 10.3390/land10030254


Katelynn J. Cook, Glen T. Hvenegaard, Elizabeth A. Halpenny

Applied Environmental Education & Communication. 2021 January; 10.1080/1533015X.2019.1693309


Lisa N. Tink, Bethan C. Kingsley, Nancy Spencer-Cavaliere, Elizabeth Halpenny, Mary Ann Rintoul, Allison Pratley

Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2020 May; 10.1080/2159676X.2018.1457071


Christine M. Van Winkle, Jill N. H. Bueddefeld, Elizabeth A. Halpenny, Kelly J. MacKay

Leisure Studies. 2019 September; 10.1080/02614367.2019.1618895


Journal of Ecotourism. 2014 January; 10.1080/14724049.2014.925466


Children's Geographies. 2014 January; 10.1080/14733285.2013.821262


Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 2014 January; 10.1080/09669582.2013.864660


Landscape Research. 2014 January; 10.1080/01426397.2012.751094


International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 2013 January;


Tourism Planning and Development. 2013 January; 10.1080/21568316.2013.779313


Leisure Sciences. 2011 January; 10.1080/01490400.2011.606776


Health Promotion International. 2011 January; 10.1093/heapro/daq053


Journal of Leisure Research. 2011 January;


Health and Place. 2011 January; 10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.12.014


Journal of Environmental Psychology. 2010 January; 10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.04.006


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