William W. Hendricks

Bill Hendricks is a Professor and Head of the Experience Industry Management Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

The program offers a B.S. in Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Administration.

Hendricks completed his Ph.D. at the University of Utah. His research interests in visitor experiences and recreation resource management are complemented by his experience in the field that spans more than 30 years as an educator, park ranger, and employee in the ski industry.

For more than two decades, Hendricks has worked cooperatively with the U.S. Forest Service on a variety of outdoor recreation research projects.

In addition, he has maintained cooperative research projects with California State Parks since 2000.

He is currently a Trustee of the California Foundation for Parks and Recreation, a member of the California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, and a member of the Visit California Research Committee.

Among his honors, Hendricks is a recipient of the Cal Poly Distinguished Scholarship Award; the Cal Poly Distinguished Faculty Service-Learning Award; the College of Agriculture Faculty Teaching Excellence Award; and the U.S. Forest Service and International Journal of Wilderness Excellence in Wilderness Management Research Award.

Hendricks has also been inducted as a member of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration.

Expertise: visitor experiences, recreation resource management, outdoor recreation, park management, and human dimensions of natural resources