Henderson Honored for Research

Dr. Karla Henderson, a parks, recreation and tourism management professor, received an honorary doctorate from a Canadian university in recognition of seminal research in leisure studies.

Henderson, whose research examines leisure’s relationship to gender and to people on the margins of society, was honored by the University of Waterloo in Ontario for contributions as a scholar, advocate, academic leader and community builder. She spoke with graduates in applied health sciences and the environment during convocation this summer.

At NC State, she teaches primarily graduate courses in recreation and leisure theory and qualitative research methods. Henderson has published more than a dozen books, four dozen book chapters and 150 peer-reviewed papers, while holding leadership positions in professional organizations and earning awards for both teaching and research.

She earned a B.S. in physical education and an M.S. in guidance and counseling, both from Iowa State University, and a Ph.D. in recreation, park and leisure studies from the University of Minnesota.