Megha Budruk

Dr. Megha Budruk is a natural resource social scientist and Associate Professor in the School of Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University. Her scholarship advances understanding of human–nature relationships to inform public land management, strengthen community well-being, and shape inclusive institutional decision-making.

Her research program is distinguished by a transnational and multicultural perspective shaped by lived, educational, and professional experiences across India, East and West Africa, and the United States. Rather than treating these contexts as discrete, Dr. Budruk advances integrative and comparative approaches that examine how nature is perceived, valued, and managed. Her work expands dominant paradigms in parks, tourism, and conservation by elevating underrepresented perspectives and advancing culturally grounded, inclusive frameworks.

Dr. Budruk’s research interests focus on the inclusion of stakeholder perspectives into resource management and is organized around three interconnected areas: (1) visitor experience and decision-making in parks and protected areas, (2) human–nature relationships and place-based meaning across cultural contexts, and (3) community engagement and global capacity building in conservation and tourism systems. Across these areas, she works in close collaboration with public land agencies (such as the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Arizona State Parks and Maricopa County Parks), nonprofit organizations, and international partners to produce decision-relevant, actionable knowledge that informs policy, planning, and management. 

Her scholarship demonstrates significant academic and public impact, including more than 2,200 citations, an h-index of 25, and over $1.3 million in funded research. Her work contributes to the long-term sustainability of natural and cultural resource settings through an increased understanding of human relationships with these settings. She was named a Fellow of The Academy of Leisure Sciences in recognition of her national and international contributions to the field.

In addition to her research, Dr. Budruk is a dedicated educator and mentor, preparing students and early-career professionals to navigate complex social–ecological systems through interdisciplinary, globally informed, and practice-oriented approaches. Her teaching spans undergraduate to doctoral levels and includes immersive international programs focused on conservation and community development.

Dr. Budruk also provides leadership at institutional, civic, and global levels. She serves as Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs at Arizona State University, chaired the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Commission, and contributes to international conservation initiatives through organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Her work bridges scholarship, policy, and practice to advance inclusive, sustainable futures for communities and public lands worldwide.