Rate My Professor Mary Wells

Mary Wells serves as Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah. She holds a Ph.D. and was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2015. Wells teaches a range of courses essential to the department's nationally accredited curriculum, including PRT 3510 Trends and Issues in Community Recreation and Sport Management, PRT 3530 Recreation Area and Facility Management, PRT 3780 Program and Services Evaluation in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, PRT 2520 Liability and Risk Management in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, PRT 5495 Business of Nonprofits, and PRT 3100 Foundations of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Her instructional focus encompasses youth programming, recreational sport, professional issues, community recreation, risk management, program evaluation, and nonprofit management in the parks, recreation, and tourism sector.

Wells' scholarly contributions center on enhancing professional competencies and programming effectiveness in parks, recreation, leisure, and sport. Key publications include 'Writing Well as an Essential Skill for Professionals in Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Sport' (SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 2012), which outlines strategies for developing writing proficiency critical for grant proposals, reports, and professional communications; 'Grubs and Grasshoppers: Challenge-Based Recreation Programming' (Leisure Sciences, 2004); and works on increasing physical activity and enjoyment through goal-setting at summer camps, as well as factors related to sense of community in youth sport parents. Her research has garnered 286 citations on ResearchGate. As Undergraduate Director, she coordinates academic advising and emphasis areas such as Commercial, Community Recreation and Sport Management, contributing to student preparation for careers in parks, recreation, and sustainable tourism planning.