UW Grad Student Explores Intersection of Tourism, Environmental Economics

Growing up in Saratoga, Burgan Campbell learned what it means to be a true Wyomingite: a strong work ethic, presenting yourself well in public spaces and always shaking someone's hand firmly.

Those values, instilled by his community and his grandfather, Douglass Campbell, now guide his path in environmental studies.

"My grandfather was always someone who put his best foot forward," Campbell says. "He worked on things until they were completely done in a way that I don't see in a lot of other places. He always taught me how to be loving and kind, as well as allowing myself to be who I am all the time."

Now a first-year graduate student in the environment, natural resources and society program at the University of Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Campbell is preparing for a career in environmental consulting with a focus on economics and tourism.

"I'm very much focused on the economic side of environmental work," he says. "I'm also focused on tourism and how that correlates with problems and benefits we have in many communities like the one in Saratoga."

The program has taught Campbell valuable skills beyond technical knowledge.

"The most beneficial skills I've learned would have to be the interconnectedness of our environment, as well as being kind toward everybody while still being productive in the workspace," he says.

Campbell credits faculty mentorship for pushing him toward graduate studies.

"Without the people pushing me in the classroom, like Professor (Richard) Vercoe and many other individuals, to pursue a graduate degree, none of this would've been possible," Campbell says.

His advice to high school students considering college?

"Do it. It really shows you who you are as a person in the long run. It ultimately benefits you in ways that I didn't think were possible when I first started at UW," he says.

Three Decades of Impact

UW's Haub School prepares the next generation of natural resource professionals while serving Wyoming's wild and working lands and communities. With 1,275 alumni (1996-2025), many working across the state in government, private industry, nonprofits and education, the school offers six undergraduate and seven graduate programs integrating science, policy, law, economics and community engagement.

The school brings about $2 million annually in research funding to Wyoming while supporting communities through four dedicated centers and institutes. Recent milestones include a $5 million gift from Jay and Karen Kemmerer in 2025 to establish the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute, supporting the state's second-largest industry.

Haub School programs, including the Wyoming Conservation Corps, have trained more than 150 young adults and veterans since 2021, while the Biodiversity Institute connects people of all ages to Wyoming's wildlife through 40-plus annual programs reaching over 3,500 participants statewide. The school's Ruckelshaus Institute facilitates collaborative, long-term solutions to natural resource challenges, offers professional workforce development, and publishes the award-winning Western Confluence magazine, reaching nearly 4,000 readers across the state. Learn more at https://www.uwyo.edu/haub.

Additionally, the Haub School's Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program -- established in 2021 through a major gift from UW alumni Carol and Ramon Tomé -- provides exceptional students with full-ride, four-year scholarships and experiential learning opportunities to address complex environmental challenges. Recent expanded support from the Tomé Foundation has doubled the number of scholars on campus. Learn more at https://www.uwyo.edu/haub/academics/academic-advising/tome-scholars-to-fellows.html.