Graduate Assistants

Heather Blair

Climate, Weather and Tourism Initiative

Heather is a native of Frederick, Maryland. Nestled between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, her hometown is a fabulous place filled with food, farms, history, scenic trails and the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. Heather grew up with a passion for travel and camping through state and national parks across the country. A study abroad program took her across the world to Australia for a semester of environmental studies and adventures all over the Outback and New Zealand. Heather received a Bachelor of Science degree from Salisbury University on the Maryland Eastern Shore, where she majored in Geography with an Earth and Atmospheric Science concentration and managed to find time to minor in Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design. It only made sense that she should continue down the eastern shore to North Carolina to earn her Master of Art degree in Geography at ECU, allowing her to maintain the nickname of Weather Heather while researching weather and climate impacts on the tourism industry for the Center for Sustainable Tourism. 

Erin Green

International Relationships, Cuba Research, Raleigh CVB Sustainability

Erin was raised in the great northern state of Minnesota, where her family's love of spending time outdoors was a major part of her upbringing. She was fortunate enough to spend three years of her childhood living in Malaysia which allowed for extensive travel throughout southeast Asia and Europe.  Erin graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa with degrees in French and Environmental Studies with a social science concentration. While studying abroad in southern Madagascar, she discovered the academic field of sustainable tourism. After a brief stint with AmeriCorps, she found her way to ECU to start the MS in Sustainable Tourism program. As a graduate assistant at the Center for Sustainable Tourism, Erin is spending time working on strengthening relationships with international sustainable tourism organizations, studying impacts of tourism in Cuba, and working with the Raleigh CVB.  She loves canoeing, camping, good food, games, and meeting new people.

Nathan Hingtgen

RETI Webinars, International Relationships, Costa Rica & Cuba Research, EPA

Sierra Jones

Public Information and Marketing, Social Media

Sierra's roots run deep in Eastern North Carolina, specifically nearby Lenoir County. A lover of the outdoors since childhood, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and just absorbing the beauty of the world around her. Indulging her creative side, Sierra earned an AAS degree in Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology, before embarking on her current educational direction. In 2009 she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from East Carolina University double majoring in History and Political Science. Always curious about the past, places, and people that helped shape the future, she felt this combination of concentrations would serve her well. While researching and writing her senior history thesis about the social and economic benefits of Civilian Conservation Corps projects in North Carolina, she became increasingly interested in conservation, preservation, and tourism.  Sierra is now pursuing a Master in Public Administration degree. As a graduate assistant at the Center for Sustainable Tourism she will be helping to establish a public information strategy, preparing and distributing information about the Center and its initiatives. Sierra hopes to do more traveling in the future, and in her spare time enjoys reading, cooking, and sneaking away to the coast.

Alison Murray

Visitor Profile Data Project, Race, Ethnicity, and Tourism Initiative, Durham CVB Sustainability

Alison is a very proud native of Durham, North Carolina.  She spent summers at various outdoor recreation camps and winter vacations skiing in Montreal, Canada. Alison grew up traveling to Spain, Puerto Rico, Canada, and many different states in the US. She received her BS in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a focus on Tourism and Commercial Recreation from NC State University. After a summer study abroad program in Ghana and a trip to the TIES Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference she knew sustainable tourism was the right path for her. When Alison is not working on her Masters, you can probably find her out on the ultimate frisbee field or visiting microbreweries. Alison has a passion for the local, microbrewery, and culinary tourism movements and is applying all three to her thesis at ECU. This year Alison is working on a sustainability certification for the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Center's RESET initiative, and a Visitor Study Pilot Program with six counties in North Carolina.

Doug Peterson

Second Home Tourism Impacts Study

Doug graduated from West Virginia University in 2011 earning a BS in Geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Science (GIS). Now a graduate student at ECU, Doug is pursuing his Masters in Geography with a GIS concentration. His research interests include the use of GIS and other Geospatial technologies to map, model, and analyze the socioeconomic and environmental aspects of coastal vulnerability to erosion hazards in North Carolina. As a graduate assistant at the Center, Doug will be working on the Second Home Study by assisting in conducting spatial analysis on the collected data and providing mapping resources to supplement the study's research. Doug's personal interests include anything outdoors, from whitewater canoeing and rafting, camping, backpacking, hunting, and fishing, to his latest endeavor - standup paddle boarding. His other hobbies include watching as much of the History and Discovery Channel as possible, especially Man vs. Wild and Dual Survival, as well as WVU Mountaineers football. Doug is also very interested in Civil War history and researches individual military units from his home state of Virginia, and follows national and Virginia state level politics.

Haley Winslow

Eastern North Carolina Economic Development, Nature-Based Tourism

Haley was born and raised in the lovely state of North Carolina. Having a large family background in farming on one side, and a lighthouse keeper on the other, Haley had the opportunity to enjoy a great deal of eastern North Carolina’s rich heritage. With an ambitious, adventure-seeking family, Haley had the opportunity to live in some very exciting places. She lived on the Outer Banks the majority of her life with short stints elsewhere such as Alaska, and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains where Haley acquired a passion for nature and a drive to protect the pristine environments she cared so much for. After graduating from high school, Haley went on to attend East Carolina University where she studied Hospitality Management with a concentration in Conventions and Special Events along with a minor in Business Administration. During her undergrad years, Haley participated in an eight month internship at Disney World in Florida, where she acquired an interest in cultural diversity and resort “green” initiatives. While an undergrad, she decided to pursue more education and began looking into Masters programs. With the help of a much admired Hospitality professor, Haley chose the Masters of Science in Sustainable Tourism program. Here she hopes to work toward improving sustainable efforts and tourism throughout the Eastern part of North Carolina. 

Whit Winslow

Outdoor Associations, Sustainable Practices

Whit was born and raised right here in Eastern North Carolina, enjoying everything the area has to offer. As the son of a farmer and a teacher, a respect and curiosity for the environment was unavoidable. Upon completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at Elon University, Whit moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, working directly within the tourism industry selling and renting kayaks, canoes, and bicycles to people touring from all over the world. Upon the the realization that cold weather was not for him, Whit moved back to the Greenville area to pursue an MBA from ECU. After a chance meeting with the staff of the Center for Sustainable Tourism, he immediately knew the direction he would take his degree. Now a Graduate Assistant in the Center, Whit is pursuing his MBA as well as taking courses designed for the MS in Sustainable Tourism.

Garrett Ziegler

Renewable Energy in Tourism Initiative Webinars

Garrett received a Bachelors degree in biology, with a specialization in ecology from Penn State University in 2006.  After working with a salt marsh restoration project in New York City, he followed his dream of living in the wild west by moving to Jackson Hole, WY in December of 2006. During his three years there, Garrett immersed himself in the outdoors, skiing, mountain biking, rafting, or hiking whenever possible.  When not enjoying the mountains, Garrett worked for a small boutique hotel in the Jackson area.  Through his interactions with guests and with the community he realized how lucky he was to live in such a beautiful natural place, and gained a passion for helping to preserve natural places for future generations.  It was this passion that led him back to graduate school and into the Master's of Sustainable Tourism program.  At the Center Garrett is working on a webinar series focusing on renewable energy use in tourism. The webinars are used as an educational tool for tourism business owners and operators, helping them to make smarter more sustainable business decisions.  He has also worked on a social media project for the Center and maintains the Center's FaceBook and Youtube pages.  Garrett's research interests include renewable energy and energy efficiency in the ski industry, and hopes to help make it more sustainable in the future.

Shan Newton

NC Agricultural Systems

Shan Newton owes his lineage to the beautiful lands of North Carolina. As an undergraduate, he studied classical guitar at ECU School of Music, before switching his major to a BA in Classics. His translations in ancient Latin and Greek led him to study most intimately the effects of policy in Plato's De Republica, and the inspirational reflections of Marcus Aurelius's Ad Se Ipsum. In an effort to round out his education, Shan completed a Certificate of Accounting, before enrolling in a dual-master program at ECU. Now earning his MBA and MS in Sustainable Tourism, he conducts research pertaining to the NC agricultural systems with the purpose of identifying change agents needed to cultivate a seamless food system in NC. He also serves as Treasurer to the NC World Trade Association chapter at ECU, is a nominated member of the Engagement Outreach and Scholarship Academy, and stays highly involved on campus by attending conferences and lectures. Shan's love for other cultures, his passion for understanding, and his fervent desire to make a positive impact in the world makes him a great asset to the Center for Sustainable Tourism. Among his many favorite activities are mountain biking, reef & wreck diving, and discoursing with fascinating people.

Erin Harris

NC GreenTravel & Charlotte Green Team

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, the "country music capital of the world," Erin Harris, like her native city, is a woman with humble roots and big time dreams. Erin graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor's degree in international business and political science. Since graduation, Erin has served in various management roles for a holistic wellness center, an international ethics and compliance solutions company, and a stock trading/software firm. Erin hopes to bring this professional experience to the Center; her current research involves advancing the NC GreenTravel Initiative as well as collaborating with the Charlotte Green Team. Erin is the Partnership Coordinator for Green Living Project, "the leading media production and marketing company focused on documenting, promoting, and supporting unique, cutting-edge models of sustainability from around the world." Erin's big time dream is to establish her own consulting practice and develop solutions to make sustainable travel choices easier for consumers.

Sierra Plato

Race, Ethnicity, Social Equity, and Tourism (RESET) Initiative

Sierra is originally from the capital city of Raleigh, but has also lived in Atlanta, Georgia for three years.  Tourism has aroused Sierra’s interest ever since she first learned about Australia in a sixth grade Social Studies class.  From there on, she has taken advantage of opportunities to learn and experience various cultures and geographic regions.  In the summer of 2009, Sierra traveled to the Dominican Republic for a volunteer project which sparked her passion for Latin America and the Caribbean.  Soon after, she decided to study abroad in vibrant Costa Rica for five months.  As a major in Sociology, she loves to analyze society and hopes to apply her sociological way of thinking and passion to assist marginalized communities with sustainable tourism upon graduating in May 2012.  

Keturah Mayberry

Undergraduate Assistant

Born in Joliet, Illinois, Keturah spent several years of life as a child moving throughout different states. Rapid movement sparked an interest in traveling and adventuring, which guided her to pursue a position with the Center. Keturah is an undergraduate assistant at the Center for Sustainable Tourism where she aides in research and various office tasks. She is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Management and Accounting. Keturah has a vast interest in fashion, cooking, and traveling whenever possible.

Alesha Stevenson

Undergraduate Assistant, Sustainable Tourism Highlights

Alesha's roots are centered in the heart of North Carolina, in rural Person County in the piedmont region. As a child she enjoyed spending her time outdoors at the lakes and various recreation facilities in the area. Her love of exploration and adventure developed a passion for travel and led to her concern for preservation and conservation. Alesha is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management with a minor in Business Administration. Her combination of interests and creativity led her to seek a position with the center where she writes the Sustainable Tourism Highlights, an electronic publication focusing on trends in sustainability.