Perry receives 2025 MSU Teacher-Scholar Award
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EmailDr. Bess Perry, faculty in the Department of Community Sustainability, received a MSU Teacher-Scholar award at April 7th ceremony to acknowledge her excellence in teaching, research, and outreach.
On April 7th, 2025, Dr. Bess Perry received a Teacher-Scholar Award from The Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development at Michigan State University. One of several, these awards recognize the excellent work of MSU’s faculty, academic specialists, graduate students, and executive leaders. Perry is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability, focusing on Natural Resources Recreation Management and Director of the Park Connections Lab.
Perry’s work addresses critical issues for park and recreation managers, visitors, and communities those recreation lands reside in. She works with many types of parks to address their unique managerial concerns and highlight their contributions to sustainability. As Director of the Park Connections Lab, Perry regularly includes students in all aspects of her work with recreation communities, allowing students to gain first-hand experience in the research process.
Perry says of receiving this award, “My research and teaching are intertwined and so I’m deeply honored to be recognized for quality engagements in each. I aim to improve relevant connections people have with parks and recreation and, more broadly, to encourage stewardship ethics and actions. This award is so meaningful to me, as I enjoy tailoring these aims to different audiences – students, community partners, collaborators, etc. – to advance sustainability. Working with undergraduate students and scholars is so fulfilling.”
Rebecca Jordan, chairperson of the Department of Community Sustainability, reflecting on Perry’s contributions to the department, “Dr. Perry is one of those unique individuals who is able to seamlessly integrate her research, teaching, and outreach to support students and her field of inquiry. She also happens to be extremely kind and a stellar colleague. This award is a well-deserved recognition of Dr. Perry’s excellence in all facets of her work here within the department and at MSU writ large.”
Perry acknowledged the inspiration from mentors and colleagues that drive her effort, “I was fortunate to spend considerable time in the classroom with my Masters of Science degree advisor, Dr. Mark Needham, at Oregon State University. Through this, I saw how he brought a lot of content knowledge alongside a lot of personality into the classroom. This continues to be inspirational to my approach – that I could be both my true energetic and quirky self and an effective educator at the same time. This has also helped me maintain focus on each student as an individual in our class community, with their own ways of showing up and understanding. I’d also like to acknowledge Drs. Kim Coleman (UVM), Jessica Leahy (U Maine), and Bob Dvorak (CMU) as inspirational colleagues in crafting teaching and scholarship with me, and the late Dr. Daniel Sarr of the National Park Service, who was my supervisor and a passionate believer in science communication across audiences.”
Perry’s significant scholarly contributions and excellence in the field was acknowledged in 2024 in her receipt of the 2024 CANR Early Career Researcher Awards. More information about Perry’s work and updates from the Park Connections Lab can be found on Instagram (@parkconnectionslabmsu) or at Research Gate Park Connections Lab page.
