Health and Human Development

Recreation, park and tourism management faculty receive national awards

Professors of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management Andrew Mowen (left) and Bing Pan (right) receive national honors at the 2025 The Academy of Leisure Sciences Conference. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Professors of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management (RPTM) Andrew Mowen and Bing Pan both recently received national honors at the 2025 The Academy of Leisure Sciences (TALS) Conference, held March 5-7 in Pittsburgh.

Mowen received the TALS Distinguished Colleague Award for outstanding performance in teaching, research and service in leisure studies.

Pan was named a fellow of the academy for his achievements as a leader in scientific research.

Andrew Mowen, Distinguished Colleague Award

Throughout his career, Mowen's research has focused on the financial and health benefits of park and recreation services. His research projects have documented the economic and health contributions of outdoor recreation investments and policies, including public attitudes toward park and conservation funding strategies as well as urban park capital investments and programmatic activation.

Mowen has worked with numerous park conservancies, state and local government agencies, foundations and businesses to assess the impact of investments on social, economic, environmental and health benefits. He was principal investigator for the national award-winning 2014-19 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, conducting research to inform the Pennsylvania State Parks strategic planning process.

“Andrew has an impressive record of effectively disseminating his work among both practitioner and academic audiences to inform policy and practice,” said Sammie Powers, a 2021 Penn State alumna with a doctorate in recreation, park and tourism management and recipient of the 2025 TALS New Researcher Award. “A hallmark of his work is involving students in his ongoing research projects and supporting student-led research. He is an incredible advocate for his students, connecting them to his professional network, promoting their work and supporting their acquisition of funding.”

Penn State alumna Sammie Powers (left), Penn State Professor Andrew Mowen (middle) and Penn State alumnus Nick Pitas (right) with their TALS Conference awards. Credit: Submitted by Andrew Mowen. All Rights Reserved.

Penn State Professor Bing Pan (middle) with his TALS fellow induction plaque alongside TALS Fellows Committee Chair Mary Ann Devine (left) and Penn State Professor John Dattilo (right). Credit: Submitted by Andrew Mowen. All Rights Reserved.

TALS Fellows Committee Chair Mary Ann Devine (left), Penn State alumna Ellen Drogin Rodgers (middle) and Penn State Professor Andrew Mowen (right). Credit: Submitted by Andrew Mowen. All Rights Reserved.

Penn State alumna Sammie Powers (left), Penn State Professor Andrew Mowen (middle) and Penn State alumnus Nick Pitas (right) with their TALS Conference awards. Credit: Submitted by Andrew Mowen. All Rights Reserved.

Penn State Professor Bing Pan (middle) with his TALS fellow induction plaque alongside TALS Fellows Committee Chair Mary Ann Devine (left) and Penn State Professor John Dattilo (right). Credit: Submitted by Andrew Mowen. All Rights Reserved.

TALS Fellows Committee Chair Mary Ann Devine (left), Penn State alumna Ellen Drogin Rodgers (middle) and Penn State Professor Andrew Mowen (right). Credit: Submitted by Andrew Mowen. All Rights Reserved.

Bing Pan, TALS fellow

Acknowledged as an outstanding leader and researcher in the field of leisure, Pan’s research centers on marketing, economics, and the benefits of travel and tourism. Pan uses data analytics, including big data, to investigate information technologies, information systems, online behavior and consumer behavior in the recreation and tourism industry.

Recent research led by Pan includes “A Comparison of Tourists’ Spatial–Temporal Behaviors Between Location-Based Service Data and Onsite GPS Tracks” and “Decolonizing knowledge production in tourism research.” He also previously worked as a Fulbright Scholar in Singapore, where his project aimed to promote improved methods for monitoring and supporting tourism at heavily visited parks.

“Penn State was among the first universities to offer a leisure science education program in the United States and globally,” Pan said. “Scholars at Penn State played a pioneering role in shaping leisure science education and research. Today, graduates of Penn State's RPTM program work around the world, advancing the education and research fields of recreation, park and tourism management. This fellowship humbles me and further inspires me to contribute meaningful, long-lasting work to the renowned legacy of Penn State's RPTM program.”

In addition to Pan and Mowen, past distinguished TALS fellows while faculty at Penn State include Geoffrey Godbey, Betty van der Smissen, John Dattilo, Garry Chick, Linda Caldwell, Alan Graefe, Deborah Kerstetter and Peter Newman.

Penn State RPTM alumni also received honors at the conference. Ellen Drogin Rodgers, a 1991 doctoral graduate, was inducted as a TALS fellow. Nick Pitas, a 2017 doctoral graduate, and Laura Payne, a 1998 doctoral graduate, each were named co-recipients of the TALS Innovation in Teaching Award.

Last Updated March 13, 2025

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