Affiliated Researchers
Dr. Danya Rumore
Dr. Danya Rumore is the Director of the Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program, a research associate professor in the S.J. Quinney College of Law, and a research assistant professor in the City and Metropolitan Planning Department at the University of Utah.
Dr. Rumore's work, teaching, and research focus on supporting collaborative decision-making and stakeholder engagement in the context of complex environmental and public policy challenges. She has particular expertise facilitating collaboration around science-intensive environmental issues, gateway and natural amenity region planning concerns, and public lands management.
In 2015, Dr. Rumore co-authored the book Managing Climate Risks in Coastal Communities: Strategies for Engagement, Readiness, and Adaptation. She is the founder of the Gateway and Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) Initiative, which is based in the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University.
Dr. Ole Sleipness
Dr. Sleipness joined LAEP in 2014. Previously, he taught at Washington State University, and earned a PhD in Environmental Design and Planning from Clemson University. Dr. Sleipness does not have an Extension assignment at Utah State University. However, his research and interests correlate with LAEP Extension projects.
Dr. Sleipness' research interests include: branding of the built environment, particularly within gateway communities and natural amenity-based development; rural community development and change; the interface between rural public and private lands; and how students engage these contexts through participatory design and service-learning.
Dr. Sleipness has more than 25 publications to his name, with the most recent being an article in the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Journal, highlighting Extension research, and a soon-to-be published article entitled, Designing a Legacy: Contributions of University Design Engagement Toward Zion’s Iconic Western Image in the Landscape Research Record.
Dr. Jordan Smith
Dr. Smith is an associate professor in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University. He is also the Director of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. He earned his PhD from NC State University in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with minors in both Geospatial Information Systems and Sociology.
Since beginning his career at USU in 2016, he has mentored five graduate students.