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Biography

Mat Duerden received a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and a M.S. from Brigham Young University (BYU). Mat is an Associate Professor of Experience Design and Management in the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University. His experience design research focuses on memorable, meaningful, and transformative experiences. Mat’s publications have appeared in a variety of journals including Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Journal of Adolescent Research, and Journal of Leisure Research. Mat co-authored, Designing Experiences, with Robert Rossman which was published in 2019 by Columbia Business School Press. Mat is a part of the Founding Circle of the World Experience Organization and a member of the Experience Research Society’s Executive Committee. He has received both an Alumni Distinguished Fellowship and a Research Excellence: Inspiring Learning Award from the Marriott School of Business.

Education

• PhD, Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2009
• MS, Youth and Family Recreation, Brigham Young University, 2006
• BA, German, Brigham Young University, 2003

Group Affiliations

• Experience Research Society — 2021
• World Experience Organization — 2021

Selected Publications

• "Empirically testing the experience type framework", Journal of Leisure Research, 2023
• "Transformative learning outcomes: Shifting the learning outcome conversation from assessment to design", International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Edition 1, Volume 35, Pages 186-194, 2023
• "Ecology of family experiences: Contextualizing family leisure for human development and family relations", Journal of Leisure Research, Edition 1, Volume 53, Pages 112-131, 2022
• "The transformative tourism learning model", Annals of Tourism Research, Volume 94, 2022
• "Work–Leisure Blending: An Integrative Conceptual Review and Framework to Guide Future Research", Journal of Applied Psychology, Page 21, American Psychological Association, 2021
• "Experience design and the origins and aims of leisure studies: Shifting the focus from context to experience", Journal of Leisure Research, 2021
• "Designing Experiences", Designing Experiences, Page 205, Columbia Business School Publishing, New York, 2019
• "From ordinary to extraordinary: A framework of experience types", Journal of Leisure Research, Edition 3-5, Volume 49, Pages 196-216, 2018
• "Leisure at work and employee flourishing", Journal of Leisure Research, Edition 3-5, Volume 49, Pages 311-332, 2018
• "Why people play at work: A theoretical examination of leisure-at-work", Leisure Sciences, Edition 6, Volume 40, Pages 634-648, 2018
• "Conceptualizing structured experiences: Seeking interdisciplinary integration", Journal of Leisure Research, Edition 5, Volume 47, Pages 601-620, 2015
• "The impact of camp employment on the workforce development of emerging adults", Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, Edition 1, Volume 32, Pages 26-44, 2014
• "The impact of direct and indirect experiences on the development of environmental knowledge, attitudes and behavior", Journal of Environmental Psychology, Edition 4, Volume 30, Pages 379-392, 2010

Experience

Academic - Post-Secondary

• Assistant Professor - Extension Specialist, Texas A&M University, 2010–2012
• Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Texas A&M University, 2009–2010

Awards

• Alumni Distinguished Fellow, Marriott School of Business, 2021
• Axiom Business Book Award Silver Medalist in the Business Intelligence/Innovation category for Designing Experiences, Axiom Awards, 2021
• Research Excellence: Inspiring Learning Award, Marriott School of Business, 2021
• Visiting Scholar, Business School, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 2019
• Alumni Research Fellow, Marriott School of Business, 2016

Languages

• German

BYU Citizenship

• Department Curriculum Coordinator — Committee/Council Chair — August 2019
• Design Thinking Minor Faculty Committee — Committee/Council Member — January 2018
• New Faculty Advisory Committee — Committee/Council Member — October 2017

Professional Citizenship

• Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, Editor, Associate Editor, August 2016
• Leisure Sciences, Editor, Associate Editor, February 2013–December 2018