Monday, August 18, 2008

PLI HIRES INTERPRETATION AND VOLUNTEERISM EXPERT



Elizabeth BarrieLAS VEGAS-The UNLV Public Lands Institute (PLI) and the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration have hired Beth Barrie as research assistant professor in recreation. In that capacity, Barrie will serve as project manager of the Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer program, which is managed by PLI, and associate professor for recreation and sport management in the college’s Department of Recreation and Sport Management.



Barrie has an extensive background in interpretation and developing interpretive curriculum and training for employees and volunteers of the National Park Service. She will use that expertise to research, manage, and coordinate the recruitment and training of volunteers on federal lands in Southern Nevada that are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. Barrie also will work with UNLV students to develop interpretive programs for public lands.



Barrie comes to PLI from the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University, where she was an instructional designer for the National Park Service Interpretive Development Program curriculum revision project. Prior to that, she was an instructor and researcher in recreation and an interpretive ranger. Barrie holds a B.A. in Communication from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management and a Ph.D. in Leisure Behavior from Indiana University.



PLI was created in 2005 to work in collaboration with federal, state, and non-profit partners to create new knowledge, advance technology, improve education, and engage the community to enhance public lands stewardship. More information about PLI is available at http://publiclands.unlv.edu/.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

U.S. Senators Reid and Ensign Recognize Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada


























U.S. Senators Reid and Ensign Recognize Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada

August 5, 2008

U.S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign have presented a United States Senate Certificate of Recognition and Distinction to the Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada program. The program recently received the Take Pride in America National Award in the state program category for its successful efforts to encourage public land clean-up activities and discourage littering and illegal dumping. Reid and Ensign note that the national award “is a result of your outstanding commitment to the enhancement and preservation of Southern Nevada’s public lands.”

U.S. Senators Reid and Ensign recognize Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada for winning the National Take Pride Award for best state program and for its successful anti-litter and desert dumping efforts. Pictured left to right: Erika Schumacher, Bureau of Land Management; Amy Sprunger, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Sen. Harry Reid; Erik Walker, U.S. Forest Service; David Hughey, National Park Service; Sen. John Ensign; and Doug Joslin, UNLV Public Lands Institute, which manages the Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada program.



Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada Project Manager Doug Joslin with Sen. Reid and Sen. Ensign

Representatives of the Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada program accept the award for best state program from Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Take Pride in America Executive Director Katie Loovis. Pictured left to right: Sec. Kempthorne; Erik Walker, U.S. Forest Service; Lisa Christianson, Bureau of Land Management; Amy Sprunger, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; David Hughey, National Park Service; Erika Schumacher, Bureau of Land Management; Doug Joslin, Public Lands Institute; and Executive Director Loovis.