Heather J. Gibson

Biography

Heather J. Gibson, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management at the University of Florida. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a PhD in Sport, Leisure and Exercise Science. Dr. Gibson teaches classes in leisure and tourism behavior, sport tourism and research methods. She also leads study abroad programs in Australia and Fiji. Her research interests include sport tourism (specializing in sport events and active sport tourism), leisure and tourism behavior in mid and later life, women as tourists, and perceived risk in tourism. She has published extensively in the fields of tourism, leisure and sport, accomplishments that include three edited books. She is a fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences and the Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars, the International Academy for the Study of Tourism, and a Senior Fellow of the World Leisure Organization. Dr. Gibson is an Associate Editor for the Annals of Tourism Research and the Journal of Sport and Tourism, an Editorial Board member for Tourism Management, the Journal of Sport Management, the Journal of Policy Research in Leisure, Tourism and Events and the World Leisure Journal.