Kelly Cerialo
Ph.D. Leadership and Change, MS Communication Management
Dr. Kelly L. Cerialo is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator in the Business and Hospitality Department at Paul Smith’s College. She is the Co-chair of the UNESCO Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Network, and founder/focal point for the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Youth Network. She coordinates international student exchanges with a focus on sustainable tourism and community development in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Italy and South Africa. She is the co-founder of the Adirondack to Appennino Sustainable Parks and Communities Project- an international sustainable tourism initiative between the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano Biosphere Reserve in Italy and the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Reserve.
Kelly received the David H. Chamberlain Excellence in Teaching Award in 2019 and Faculty Member of the Year at Paul Smith’s College in 2018. Kelly has presented at United Nations and UNESCO conference in the U.S., Europe, and Africa. Research interests include the social impacts of tourism in protected areas, tourism in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves governance and management, recreation overuse, youth leadership mentoring in sustainable communities, and cross-cultural communication.
Eric Holmlund
Ph.D. in Environmental Studies, Director of Graduate Studies, Instructor of Environmental Ethics
Dr. Eric Holmlund is a member of the Graduate Faculty and Department of Environment and Society at Paul Smith’s College. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England, a M.S. in Teaching from SUNY Potsdam, a M.S. Ed. in Outdoor Recreation from Southern Illinois University and a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College. From 2000 to 2019, Eric founded and directed the Adirondack Watershed Institute Stewardship Program, which is New York State’s largest aquatic invasive species spread prevention and education program dedicated to protecting the natural heritage of Adirondack rivers, ponds and lakes.
Since 2014, Eric has co-directed a collaboration between Paul Smith’s College and the Tosco-Emiliano Biosphere Reserve in northern Italy focused on sustainable tourism and community identity. He has served as a wilderness recreation leadership instructor for Outward Bound and the Wilderness Education Association. He is a steering committee member of the Paul Smith’s College Global Center for Rural Communities and the Champlain Adirondack Biosphere Network (UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program).
Joe Conto
MS, Hospitality Management
Joe Conto’s academic mission is to connect students with the broad scope of the hospitality industry through academics, practical experiences and networking opportunities. He oversees the Hospitality, Resort & Tourism Management Program at this institution in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York state. Paul Smith’s College has been in the business of Hospitality Management instruction for over 60 years.