She received her Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from North Carolina State University, where she provided outreach on tourism development issues to North Carolina’s rural communities. Carol has worked in a variety of geographical and cultural settings including New England, Colorado, Germany, the Republik of Moldova, Grenada, Peru, Cuba, and the South Eastern U.S. Her research interests focus on rural tourism development including how to create a supportive environment for tourism entrepreneurs, the role of sustainable food systems in tourism, the impacts of tourism on various community ‘capitals’, and early tourist markets (such as scientists) in burgeoning and rural destinations.