Department

Health & Wellness Design

Education

• B.S.  Huxley College of the Environment/Western Washington University  1979
• M.S.  Antioch University New England  1987
• Ph.D.  Indiana University  2018

Background

• National Association for Interpretation, Great Lakes Region, Distinguished Professional Interpreter Award, 2019
• Indiana University Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies Excellence in Teaching Award, 2018, 2019
• National Association for Interpretation Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Committee Member
• National Park Service Park Ranger/Interpreter: Mesa Verde National Park, Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Zion National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Indiana Dunes National Park, North Cascades National Park
• Education Director, Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center, 2005–2010
• Senior Research Associate, National Park Service Social Science Program, 1999–2005
• Education Specialist, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

Courses Currently/Recently Taught

• SPH-R 200 Foundations of Leisure and Public Health
• SPH-O 340 Interpretation and Tour Guiding
• SPH-O 360 Human Health and Natural Environments

Research

Visitor-centered, two-way interpretation through dialogue Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors and environmental professions

Selected Publications

Articles

Forist, B. E. (2003). Visitor use and evaluation of interpretive media. Washington, DC: National Park Service Social Science Program

Le, L., Forist, B., & Hollenhorst, S. J. (2005). Keweenaw National Historical Park visitor study: Visitor services project technical report. Moscow, ID: National Park Service Social Science Program.

Knapp, D., & Forist, B. (2014). A new interpretive pedagogy. Journal of Interpretation Research, 19(1), 33-38.

Knapp, D., & Forist, B. (2015). A new commitment to the visitor. Legacy: The Magazine of the National Association for Interpretation, 26(3), 34-37.

Eiler, K., & Forist, B. (2017). The professional ranger-interpretation: Engaging the public with social media. Ranger: The journal of the Association of National Park Rangers, 33(4), 17-18.

Forist, B. (2018). The professional ranger-interpretation: Towers & type: A pop-up experience at Grand Canyon. Ranger: The journal of the Association of National Park Rangers, 34(2), 16.

Forist, B. (2018). The professional ranger-interpretation: Interpretation, meh. Place wins! Ranger: The journal of the Association of National Park Rangers, 34(3), 17.

Forist, B. (2019). The professional ranger-interpretation: Why can't exemplary interpreters be excellent communicators, too? Ranger: The journal of the Association of National Park Rangers, 35(2), 18.

Forist, B. (2019). The professional ranger-interpretation: Thoughts from a study of climate change interpretation. Ranger: The journal of the Association of National Park Rangers, 35(4), 19.

Books

Stanne, S. P., Panetta, R. G., & Forist, B. E. (2005). The Hudson: An illustrated guide to the living river (2nd ed.). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.