Rate My Professor Sean McLaughlin

Sean McLaughlin, MS, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Recreation Management and Policy (RMP) within the University of New Hampshire's College of Health and Human Services. He holds an M.S. in Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Facility Management from the University of New Hampshire and a B.A. in Psychology from Chico State College. Joining UNH in 2010, McLaughlin specializes in outdoor recreation, event management, and tourism. As the coordinator for the Tourism and Event Management option, he emphasizes teaching, experiential learning, student mentorship, and developing industry partnerships to prepare students for leadership roles in recreation and resort settings. His instructional approach leverages New Hampshire and northern New England's natural environment to provide practical training in the recreation industry.

McLaughlin teaches a diverse array of courses, including RMP 603: Ski Industry Management, RMP 680: Festival and Event Planning, RMP 559: Marketing Recreation, RMP 560: Recreational Sport Management, RMP 511: Issues in Wilderness and Nature in American Society, and RMP 490: Recreation and Tourism in Society. He has supervised numerous internships and independent studies, contributing to students' professional development. In scholarship, McLaughlin co-authored 'A Longitudinal Study of Rural Youth Involvement in Outdoor Activities throughout Adolescence: Exploring Social Capital as a Factor in Community-Level Outcomes,' published in Research in Outdoor Education 12(1): 36-57 (2014). He mentors undergraduate research, such as projects on climate resiliency strategies for New Hampshire ski areas. Through his commitment to hands-on education and industry connections, McLaughlin supports the department's undergraduate programs in Tourism and Event Management, Outdoor Leadership and Management, and Therapeutic Recreation, helping graduates enter fields like festival planning, tourism operations, and outdoor recreation management.