Michael Kanters PhD

Bio

● Michael Kanters graduated from the University of Waterloo’s Recreation ;
Leisure Studies program and completed his Masters and Ph.D. in Human
Performance from Indiana University. He was the Executive Director of the
Indiana Parks & Recreation Association, an Assistant Professor for 5 years at
Brock University in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. He is
currently a Full Professor and the former Interim Department Head for the
Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management at NC State
University where he was responsible for leadership and administration of all
aspects of the department’s operation that includes two undergraduate
programs, two Masters degrees, a Graduate Certificate program, a Ph.D.
program, a parks and recreation technical service operation, a tourism
extension program, 29 full-time faculty, and 7 full-time staff.
● Dr. Kanters lead the development of the department’s Professional Golf
Management Program (and served as Director of the program from 2001-
2006), lead the development of the Sport Management degree, the online
Masters of Parks, Recreation, Tourism & Sport Management, the online
Graduate Certificate in Sport & Entertainment Venue Management, and
currently serves as Program Coordinator for the two online graduate programs
for the past 12 years.
● Dr. Kanters serves as NC State University’s representative for five parks and
recreation professional development schools that operate at the National
Training Center at Oglebay Park. Working in partnership with the National
Recreation & Park Association and the National Association of State Park
Directors, he is responsible for oversight of each school’s curriculum, the
appointment of instructors, the awarding of continuing education units, and
overall school operations.
● Over his career, Dr. Kanters has worked to support and enhance the parks ;
recreation and sports industries through teaching and research that examines
factors associated with children’s sport and recreational experiences. He has
been the principal investigator or collaborator on numerous externally funded
projects totaling more than $2,000,000 and much of his research has been
widely disseminated through publication in high-impact journals and
presentations at national and international scholarly conferences. He has also
led the development of initiatives that positively impact the lives of children
through sport and positive youth development. He has made notable
contributions to national organizations through service on national boards and
committees and through the development of a new national peer-reviewed journal on the scholarship of teaching in Sport Management (SportManagement Education Journal).
● Dr. Kanters has also been an early adopter and innovator of online teaching
and learning. He was awarded the Gertrude Cox Award for Innovative
Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology, and was selected as a
Faculty Fellow of NC State University’s division of Distance Education and
Learning Technology Applications.