Dr Michael Gassner

Program Lead - Tourism and Outdoor Leadership, Oregon State University Cascades; Honorary Assistant Professor, University of Hong Kong

Michael Gassner is a Senior Instructor and the Program Lead of the Tourism and Outdoor Leadership (TOL) programme at Oregon State University-Cascades and Honorary Assistant Professor with the University of Hong Kong. He teaches courses in outdoor and adventure education, experiential education, and risk management.  He has been involved with outdoor adventure education programs for over 15 years and has lived and worked in the U.S.A., Sabah, East Malaysia and Hong Kong as well as travelled extensively in Asia and Southeast Asia.

The TOL program partners with UWC South East Asia (UWCSEA) in Singapore to provide research and internship opportunities for TOL students. UWCSEA is participating in a seven-year study to evaluate the outdoor education program's impact on overall student learning and development. The study is being conducted in partnership with faculty researchers Dr. Christopher Wolsko, also at Oregon State University-Cascades.
He has a Ph.D. in Education (Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies) with an emphasis in outdoor education and a minor in international education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a Master of Science in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University-Mankato.