Denise M. Anderson, PhD, is currently the
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Faculty Success, and Well-Being in
the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences at Clemson University.
Anderson has been a faculty member in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and
Tourism Management at Clemson University since 2003 following three years as an
Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation
at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to entering academia,
Anderson served as the Adult Sport Coordinator for the Gold Medal award winning
Champaign (Illinois) Park District. She holds a B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan
University in English, an M.S. from Eastern Illinois University in Sport
Management, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in
Leisure Studies.
Anderson’s research is focused on the role of leisure and recreation in the
lives of girls and women as well as the role of leisure in college student
development. One of Anderson’s passion projects combines her commitment to
research, teaching, and service. The project, Finding Your Voice, is a free
weekend camp offered to 50 middle-school girls in the upstate of South Carolina
focused on improving confidence and body image through outdoor recreation.
Working with 14-16 undergraduate female students, Anderson’s work has allowed
students to gain hands-on programming experience while serving the surrounding
communities. In partnership with multiple community volunteers as well as two
municipal parks and recreation agencies the program has allowed hundreds of
girls who would never have the opportunity to attend camp or participate in
unique outdoor activities to participate in backpacking, rock climbing, and
kayaking as well as participate in sessions on yoga and self-defense/martial
arts. In addition to this project Anderson has completed multiple needs
assessments with municipal parks and recreation agencies, published in a wide
range of peer-reviewed journals, co-authored two textbooks with a third in
production and received multiple awards for innovative teaching. Anderson also
served as the President of The Academy of Leisure Sciences. [current as of Jan
2025]