Geneviève Marchand, MBA, Ph.D.

Geneviève (Gen) Marchand, MBA, PhD, is a visiting professor in the Outdoor Industry MBA program in the School of Business. She has been teaching in higher education since 2004, with a focus on leadership development in the outdoors. Previously, she worked as an associate professor and program leader in Recreation Administration at Cal Poly Humboldt. She coordinated the outdoor leadership emphasis, as well as oversaw the administration of the major. She has focused her research efforts on underrepresented communities and social justice in the outdoor industry, as well as work-life balance. Outside of work, she trains for adventure racing and loves to ski, bike, paddle, hike and road trip to mountains and deserts. Within her professional roles, she seeks to be a transformational leader and lead with compassion and with the eagerness to always learn more.

How did you discover Western?

Having worked in the outdoor industry for over 20 years, I had heard of Western as a great school for outdoor-related studies. I was even more excited when the Outdoor Industry MBA was developed!

What are some of the highlights of your career?

I have dedicated a lot of time to balancing fieldwork and academic studies so my experience could be relevant to my students and research. My early research projects, including my thesis and dissertation, looked at job satisfaction and stressors of field instructors, which I believe has helped highlight some of the ongoing issues of doing fieldwork to help future generations better balance their work life.
I value learning and hope to model that for my students. This has included completing my MBA while holding a full-time tenured professor position at Cal Poly Humboldt. I also served the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education for a number of years, helping advance the role of research in our field, as well as grow the association’s reach.

What most excites you about your field?

The outdoor industry is the 3rd largest industry in the United States which means there are so many opportunities for anyone! The last 10 years have seen a big push toward creating a more inclusive, diverse, and approachable industry where more people can see themselves participating and working in the outdoors. There is still a lot more work to be done, but I am really excited about the changes I have seen over my career.

What is your favorite thing about the Gunnison Valley?

All the outdoor opportunities there are to discover! As a skier, hiker, boater, climber, biker and more, this is the best playground I could hope for!

Courses Taught

• Project development and management
• Legal and Finance
• Career Preparation
• Leadership and Group Development
• Administration and Management
• Facility Planning
• Leadership Development
• Program development
• Outdoor Recreation
• Expedition planning
• Backpacking
• Rock Climbing
• Canoeing
• Orienteering
• Winter wilderness living

Publications

• Marchand, G. & Gerber, K. (In review). Careers in Outdoor Recreation. In Guthrie, S., McCoy, D., & Jensen, C. (Eds.), Foundations of Outdoor Recreation (7th Edition), Human Kinetics.
• Gerbers, K. & Marchand, G. (2021). Social Class Considerations in Outdoor Leadership Education. In Ardoin, S. & Guthrie, K. (Eds.), Leadership Practice and Development through a Social Class Lens. New Directions for Student Leadership. 2021(169), 93-101.
• Marchand, G., Doss, H., McMahan, Lewis, P., Friesen, P. & Hobbs, W. (2019). Outdoor Industry Credential: Exploring perspectives within the profession. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership. 11(4).
• Marchand, G. & Healy, S. (2019). The Implementation of Project CHASE: a Facebook‐delivered, parent-mediated physical activity intervention for children with Autism. Palaestra. 33(3), 32-39.
• Healy, S. & Marchand, G. (2019). The feasibility of Project CHASE: a Facebook-delivered, parent-mediated physical activity intervention for children with Autism. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. 62(2), 225-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2019.1597968
• Marchand, G. & Millard, N. (2019). Participation in the Outdoor Nation Campus Challenge, Place Attachment and Well-Being. Proceedings of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference.
• Healy, S., Marchand, G. & Williams, E. (2018). I’m not in this alone” The perspective of parents mediating a physical activity intervention for their children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 83, (160-167).
• Marchand, G. & Sanford, P. (2017). Values, Obstacles, and Needs of Campus Outdoor Programs to Serve Local Underserved Communities. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership. 9(1), (10‐14).
• Marchand, G. & Banks, S. (2015). Adventure Education. In R. Black & K. Bricker (Eds.) Adventure Programming and Travel for the 21st Century. State College, PA: Venture Publishing.
• Marchand, G. (2014). Environmental Attitude of Students Enrolled in Outdoor Education Classes. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership. 6(2), 180-182.
• Marchand, G. & Russell, K. (2013). Examining the Role of Expectations and Perceived Job Demand Stressors for Field Instructors in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth. 30(1). 55-71.
• Marchand, G. (2010). The relationship between newcomer’s expectations of job demand stressors, job satisfaction and days of field experience: A study of field instructors in wilderness therapy. Journal of Experiential Education. 32(3), 305-308.
• Marchand, G. & Russell, K. (2010). Initial Training of Field Instructors in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs. Proceedings of the 24th Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference. 68-70.
• Marchand, G., Russell, K. & Cross, R. (2009). An empirical examination of wilderness therapy field instructor job-related stress and retention. Journal of Experiential Education. 31(3), 359-375.
• Marchand, G. (2009). Outward Bound Minnesota – An Exploratory Ethnography. Proceedings of the 22nd and 23rd Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference. 66-68.
• Marchand, G. (2008). Difficulties affecting field instructors in wilderness therapy. Journal of Experiential Education. 30(3), 286-289.