KIRK L. NICHOLS, PhM portrait
  • Associate Professor (Lecturer) of Outdoor Recreation Studies, Parks, Recreation & Tourism
  • Academic Liaison/Advisor and Faculty, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Parks, Recreation & Tourism
  • Associate Professor (Lecturer), Parks, Recreation & Tourism
801-581-7519

Professional Service

  • Central Wasatch Commission, Stakeholders Council. Recreation Committee. 10/01/2023 - present
  • Central Wasatch Commission, Stakeholder Council. Visitor Use Management Committee. 12/01/2019 - 12/31/2021
  • Central Wasatch Commission. Role: Council member. Stakeholder's Council . 01/2019 - present
  • Central Wasatch Commission Environmental Steering Committee. Role: Academic and community council member. Advise for the creation of and monitoring of the Environmental Dashboard. 11/01/2016 - present
  • Big Cottonwood Community Council. Role: Promote and propose on trails in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Trails committee. 11/01/2016 - present
  • Big Cottonwood Canyon Bicycling Committee. Advise on cycling safety and opportunities in Big cottonwood Canyon. 11/01/2016 - present
  • Evergreen HOA. Role: President and Watermaster. Liaison between HOA and US Forest Service, other duties such as budget, taxes, water rights etc. as they arise. 11/01/2015 - present
  • Mountain Accord, Recreation System Group. Advise toward the Mountain Accord. 11/01/2015 - 11/01/2018
  • Big Cottonwood Community Council. Role: Elected Representative for the Evergreen and Lady of the Lake communities. Governmental advisory committee. 10/01/2015 - present
  • American Avalanche Association. Role: Member, intermitant reviewer. Professional Member. 06/2009 - 12/31/2010

Internal Service

  • Workload Policy Committee, PRT. Chair, 09/01/2023 - present. Department service.
  • Undergraduate Awards/memorial video presentations, PRT Scholarships Awards banquet. Creator/Presenter , 01/2023 - 05/2023. Department service.
  • Department RPT Committee. Member, 11/01/2021 - 03/31/2022. Department service.
  • University Hosp COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, College of Health. Vaccination Support, 04/15/2021 - 06/05/2021. University service.
  • Rockwood Scholarship Review Committee. Reader, Elector, 01/20/2021 - 04/01/2021. Department service.
  • Undergraduate Strategic Planning Committee. Member, 11/02/2020 - present. Department service.
  • Computer Technology Committee. Member, 08/17/2020 - present. College service.
  • Grievance Review Committee. member, 07/01/2019 - 09/01/2020. College service.
  • Undergraduate Scholarship Committee. 01/01/2017 - present. Department service.
  • NOLS/PRT Scholarship Review Committee. member, 01/01/2013 - present. Department service.
  • Curriculum Grievance Review Committee . Member, 01/2005 - 12/31/2020. Department service.
  • Instructor Qualifications Review Committee - NOLS. Chair, 07/1997 - present. Department service.
  • Curriculum Assessment Committee - NOLS. Chair, 07/1997 - present. Department service.
  • Off-Site Review Committee. Chair, 07/01/1997 - present. Department service.
  • Department photographer / videographer. 01/1996 - 12/31/2020. Department service.
  • Faculty Liaison/Student Advisor with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Liaison, Advisor, and faculty, 07/09/1986 - present. Department service.

Community Partnership

  • Central Wasatch Commission Stakeholders' Advisory Council . 01/01/2019 - present
  • Volunteer Representative Utah Stream Access Coalition (USAC). 04/02/2017 - present
  • Central Wasatch Commission, Environmental Steering Committee. 10/2016 - present
  • Big Cottonwood Canyon Cycling Committee. 11/01/2014 - present
  • Member Mountain Accord, Recreation Systems Group. 02/20/2013 - 09/15/2015
  • 2011-14 Editor, writer, photographer, videographer: The Utah Nordic Alliance, www.utahnordic.com . 02/2011 - present
  • 2010-14 Councilperson, Big Cottonwood Community Council . 09/2010 - present
  • 2010-14 President Evergreen HOA, Wasatch-Cache National Forest . 08/2010 - present
  • 2009-14 Editor, Salt Lake Nordic Ski Team blog at FasterSkier.com . 09/2009 - present
  • 2007-09 Resource Management Planning Team, Antelope Island State Park . 01/2007 - present
  • 2006-08 Intermountain Division volunteer, Junior Olympics, Nordic Division. 01/2006 - present
  • 2006-18 Volunteer, The Utah Nordic Alliance . 01/2006 - present
  • 2003-04 Antelope Island State Park Access Board . 01/2003 - present

Outreach

  • University of Utah Collegiate Nordic Ski Invitational, Assistant Stadium Delegate. 01/08/2020 - 01/12/2020
  • Nordic Junior and U23 World Championships, Soldier Hollow, Olympic Legacy Venue, Stadium Assistant. 01/30/2017 - 02/12/2017
  • US Nordic Senior National Championship, Soldier Hollow, Olympic Legacy Venue, Stadium Assistant, Videographer. 01/05/2017 - 01/15/2017
  • Correspondent for International Ski Trax Magazine. 01/01/2012 - 12/31/2020

Honors & Awards

  • Recipient, University of Utah Distinguished Teaching Award . 01/01/2023
  • Inclusivity Excellence Award. University of Utah, College of Health, 08/19/2020
  • Commendation. Antelope Island State Park, Utah. Access Planning Board, 11/2003
  • Award: Student Service, Olympics 2002. Dept. Parks, Recreation, & Tourism, 05/2002
  • Service Award, Seasonal-Employee: Mount Nebo Goat / Soils / Vegetation Study . USDA, Forest Service, Uinta, Wasatch-Cache District, 09/1996
  • Magna Cum Laude, All American National Scholastic Award, Natural History Scholastic Award, Dean’s List. 06/1989

Affiliations

  • Central Wasatch Commission, Environmental Steering Committee (CWC), Steering Committee member, 10/01/2016 - present
  • Big Cottonwood Community Council (BCCC), Board Member, 01/2011 - present
  • Mountain Accord , Recreation Systems member, 09/2013 - present
  • The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA), Member, Editor, 06/2004 - present
  • American Avalanche Association (AAA), Professional Member, 01/2000 - present
  • National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Faculty, 08/1986 - present
  • Central Wasatch Commission: Stakeholder's Council (CWC Stakeholders ), Council member, 01/01/2019 - present

In the Media