Theresa Coble serves as the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of Experiential and Family Education at the University of Missouri – St. Louis in collaboration with Forest Park Forever. Before coming to UMSL, Dr. Coble was a professor at West Virginia University (1997-2002) and Stephen F. Austin State University (2003-2015), working in the human dimensions of forestry and natural resources. Her research examines visitor meanings and perspectives, explores professional development needs and approaches, assesses program effectiveness, and identifies strategies to engage audiences about complex and controversial science topics.
Since 1997, Coble has worked closely with the National Park Service (NPS). She currently serves on two national committees for the NPS related to interpretation and education. In 2010, she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship that took her to the Graduate Institute of Environmental Education at National Taiwan Normal University. Coble recently completed two terms as Treasurer and member of the board for the National Association for Interpretation in Fort Collins, Colorado. Working with the NPS, Dr. Coble helped develop, launch and administer a 100% online M.S. in Resource Interpretation (MSRI) program at SFASU. In 2015, she worked with an expanded set of partners (e.g., NPS, US Fish & Wildlife Service, NASA, Chabot Space & Science Center, University of California - Berkeley), to develop and pilot-test five Science and the Public Interface courses.
At UMSL, Coble is helping to launch an online doctoral program entitled Heritage Leadership for Sustainability, Social Justice and Participatory Culture. As of August 2016, the College of Education has enrolled more than 25 Heritage Leadership doctoral students from across the country and around the world. Coble completed her graduate work in Chinese (M.A.) and Forest Resources (Ph.D.) at the University of Minnesota.
