Skip to main content

Dr. Nicky Wu

Assistant Professor
Sch Kinesiology & Recreation
Office
Student Fitness Center & McCormick - SFC 170
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Biography

Dr. Nicky Wu is originally from Taiwan. She cares about environmental and social justice issues. In her leisure time, she loves travel and enjoys playing basketball and outdoor activities.

Current Courses

176.002Computer Applications in Recreation

498.053Professional Practice Parks And Recreation

Teaching Interests & Areas

Parks and Recreation Management
Travel and tourism
Study Abroad
Natural Resource Management

Research Interests & Areas

Dr. Wu studies recreation and tourism management with the special focus on tourist behaviors, natural resource planning and management, and the application of technology, such as Geographic Information System (GIS) and Virtual Reality (VR). She has been actively involved in several research and planning projects including trail and waterway use, environmental policy and issues in Michigan and Resource Management Plans for state parks and public land in Oklahoma.

PhD Sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

MS Sports and Leisure Management

National Taiwan Normal University
Taipei, Taiwan

Interdisciplinary Civic Engagement Award

Illinois State University
2022

Runner-up for Best Visual Paper Award

Travel and Tourism Research Association
2021

The Sandra Little Groves Recreation and Park Administration Faculty Development Endowed Fund

School of Kinesiology and Recreation
2021

Journal Article

Liu, H., Wu, I., & Bradley, M. J. (2021). To fee or not to fee? Satisfaction, service quality, and support of an entrance fee of a state park system. Parks Stewardship Forum, 37(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.5070/P537151753
Wu, I., Mathews, A. J., Liu, H., & Rose, N. (2020). A historical geospatial analysis of severe weather events in Oklahoma state parks: A park management perspective. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. doi:10.18666/JPRA-2020-10549
Liu, H., Bradley, M., Wu, I., & Maples, J. (2019). Resident Perceptions of Black Bear Management in South Central Kentucky. Natural Resources, 10(7), 271-283.
Wu, I., Liu, H., & Cox, M. (2018). An Exploration of Perceived Health Outcomes of State Park Visitors in Oklahoma. Recreation, Parks, and Tourism in Public Health, 2, 57-64.
Liu, H., Wu, I., & Caneday, L. (2018). Using Feasibility Study as a Management Tool: A Case Study of Oklahoma State Park Lodges. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 36, 174-190.

Presentations

Competency-based Employee Recruitment. The 2023 Southwest Park and Recreation Training Institute. (2023)
Severe Weather Mitigation. The 2023 Southwest Park and Recreation Training Institute. (2023)
Collective action for school-wellness: An ecological example. AIESEP World Congress. (2022)
Measuring the Marketing Effectiveness of a Special Event - 2022 Adaptapalooza. ISU University Research Symposium. (2022)
Online Teaching and Learning amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. 2021 International E-Conference of Sport, Leisure, and Hospitality Management. National Taiwan Normal University. (2021)
Ao, J., Wu, I., Dunlap, J. (2021). The future is Now: A Mixed-Method Analysis of Astronauts’ Experience Associate with Space Travel. The 2021 Travel and Tourism Research Association Annual Conference (Virtual).
Wu, I. (2020). Underutilized Methods of Data Collection in Contemporary Leisure Research - GIS-based data collection. 2020 TALS Annual Conference on Research and Teaching. Champaign, IL.
Wu, I., Mathews, A. Liu, H., & Rose, N. (2020*). A Historical Geospatial Analysis of Severe Weather Events in Oklahoma State Parks: A Park Management Perspective. The 2020 National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium, Annapolis, MD.
Wu, I. & Stone, K (2019). Mapping and Prioritizing Rural Communities for Tourism Development by Using GIS Based Site Suitability Analysis and Multi-criteria Decision-Making Methods. The 2019 National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium, Annapolis, MD.
Wu, I., Collins, S., & Liu, H. (2019). Immersive Virtual Tourism and Implications for Destination Marketing. 2019 TALS Annual Conference on Research and Teaching. Greenville, SC.

Grants & Contracts

Enhancing the Access to and Accessibility of Wellness Services and Programs for District 87 Schools. College of Applied Science and Technology. Illinois State University. (2022)
Adaptapalooza: Promoting DEBI Through Adapted Sports and Virtual Reality (VR). College of Applied Science and Technology. Illinois State University. (2021)
MTSU EXL Faculty Grant 2019-2020. MTSU Experiential Learning Scholars Program. Other. (2019)
MTSU EXL Faculty Grant 2018-2019. MTSU Experiential Learning Scholars Program. Other. (2018)
Community Partnership Travel Grant. MTSU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. State. (2017)