William L. Rice

I originally hail from Pennsylvania, but my home might be more accurately defined as America’s public lands. The romantic notion of great open, common grounds has long driven me to better understand the social, human elements of our parks, forests, and refuges. I attended Clemson University for my undergraduate education where I sought and received a degree in environmental economics and policy in an attempt to better understand how we value our natural resources, eventually becoming Clemson’s first Udall Scholar in 2015. However, my love for our public lands and respect for the agencies that manage them took root over many years of frolicking, exploring, and toiling in their midst. I have previously served as a Directorate Fellow with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Alaska Region and with the National Park Service at Wind Cave, Yellowstone, Cape Cod, Missouri River, and Grand Canyon national parks.
Research interests: I work with Dr. Peter Newman and Dr. Derrick Taff. My research interests are in valuation, crowding, soundscapes, and ecosystem services in our public lands. I am currently studying visitor experiences at Grand Teton National Park’s String Lake. Professionally, I hope to work as a social scientist in support of an agency, NGO, or university working to better manage and preserve our parks and protected areas.