Wild Things 2025

Brian Forist (he/him/his) holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University (2018), an M.S. from Antioch University New England, and a B.S. from Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University. He has worked as an interpreter, environmental educator, and researcher in national parks and other protected areas for more than four decades. He now teaches and coordinates academic programs in Parks, Recreation, & the Outdoors at Indiana University-Bloomington. His time with the National Park Service has included work in eight units of the National Park System as well as service as a senior research associate with the Social Science Program in the Washington, DC Office. He is a natural and cultural heritage scholar and interpreter. He has specific expertise regarding park visitor engagement through visitor-centered, two-way, dialogic communication and resource interpretation. Dr. Forist is active nationally in regard to LGBTQIA+ representation and engagement in the outdoors and outdoor professions.