Maurice Phipps, Ph.D.
Professor of Health and Human Performance
Western Carolina University
Office: Reid 122
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 9 -10am or by appointment
Phone: 828-227-3844
Email: phipps@email.wcu.edu
I am British by birth and attended Sheffield College of Education before teaching in Secondary Schools and Outdoor Centers in England and Australia. I spent three years in Australia and during that time co wrote the book Canoeing in Australia after exploring rivers in Victoria and competing in national Slalom and Wild Water racing events. On returning to Britain, I studied for the Advanced Diploma in Physical Education at Carnegie College and Leeds University, then started an outdoor pursuits company in North Yorkshire which I ran for five years.
I decided to do graduate study in the USA and did my masters' at Mankato State University and my Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. During the summers I worked for the Wilderness Education Association (WEA) in the Tetons, the Wind Rivers and Colorado. I continue to teach WEA courses and have been a trustee besides an instructor. I am currently an advisory board member. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, I worked in temporary positions at Iowa State and Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo), then full time at Western State College of Colorado and currently at Western Carolina University where I have been for the last eleven years.
My outdoor qualifications include the WEA Certifying Instructor Certificate, Wilderness First Response through SOLO, The Australian Canoe Federation Diploma award, and way back in the 70's I gained my British Canoe Union Coach Award (sea and inland).
My research interests are in outdoor leadership and instruction, and in cooperative learning. I have published in The Journal of Experiential Education, The Journal of Environmental Education, The Journal of Adventure Education, The SPRE Journal, and the North Carolina Journal besides chapters in books and proceedings articles. See publications for detail on these.
Helpful Links:
Phipps Home Page
WCU Writing Center
Hunter Library
Career Services Office
