Professor to become School of Community Resources and Development’s new director

Kelly Bricker becomes the new director of the Arizona State University School of Community Resources and Development July 1.

Bricker, a full professor, succeeds Professor Christine Buzinde, who has directed the school since 2020 and will continue teaching at the school. Like Buzinde, Bricker is a senior global futures scientist with the Scientists and Scholars Network at ASU’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory.

Bricker has led the Hainan University-Arizona State University International College (HAIC) as director since July 2021, when she came to ASU from the University of Utah. She was chair of UU’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

Cynthia Lietz, dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and President’s Professor of social work, praised Bricker as a nationally recognized scholar who brings years of administrative experience to her new position.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of her talent and experience taking on many new and exciting strategic priorities for the School of Community Resources and Development,” Lietz said.

The dean expressed gratitude for Buzinde’s five years as school director.

“Christine’s steadfast leadership advanced the school’s mission and goals during a particularly challenging time,” Lietz said. “I am deeply grateful for her generous contributions.”

Bricker said her top priority is to develop for the public a strong brand identity for the school and its

 majors, including nonprofit leadership and management; parks, recreation and sport management; and recreation therapy, as well as several in tourism, including meetings and events and resort and hotel leadership.

“It will be important that our external audience understands the need for these majors in society and really as excellent career paths,” Bricker said. “We’re changing our approach to being more career focused in our messaging.”

Another priority is advancing the school’s outdoor recreation and leadership offerings by tailoring the curriculum and learning opportunities to intersect with majors offered in the Watts College and throughout the university.

In addition, Bricker plans to strengthen the school’s relationships with the private sector and promote the school’s sustainability message to align with current global trends.

Bricker will continue as director of HAIC. She said she is proud of several accomplishments there, including HAIC’s new strategic plan, which she said will enhance the student experience.

HAIC’s U-FIRST program, which helps first-year students integrate into college life and pursue leadership opportunities, is now in its second year. Enrollment in U-FIRST is expected to double this fall, over what it was a year ago, Bricker said.

Additionally, Bricker noted the Chinese Ministry of Education’s 2024 designation of HAIC as one of only 20 international joint programs on its inaugural list of Excellent Cases of Chinese-Foreign Cooperatively Run Schools.

Bricker said HAIC faculty has increased in number, reducing class sizes and helping teach students English as a second language. The joint college also offers master’s degrees in tourism management and in public administration. Bricker also said she’s particularly proud of HAIC’s 92% graduation rate within four years of study.

Bricker earned her PhD at the Penn State University, specializing in sustainable tourism and protected areas. At Western Illinois University, she earned an MS in recreation, parks and tourism administration and a BS in outdoor recreation administration.

She is the author of books on sustainability, highlighting case studies that address environmental and social issues. Bricker serves as member of the boards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Travel Unity and the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Tourism and Protected Area Specialists Group.