Stephen Wolter

Steve Wolter is executive director of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at IU and a faculty affiliate of the IU Center for Rural Engagement. He has 40 years of experience as an expert, leader and mentor in the parks, public lands and health fields. His experience at the highest levels of parks agencies nationally, as well as local and state, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, provides him a unique expertise in leadership, health, trails and public lands.

Completing over 400 projects for more than 150 partners across the nation, Wolter engages in the details underlying trends, issues and problems. He is a member of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. With degrees from the University of Minnesota and Indiana University, Wolter is an in-demand speaker with over 1,400 engagements across the globe.

Areas of Expertise

National and state parks; parks and health; using trails for community health improvement and as economic engines; local park and recreation agency capabilities; planning for community livability through parks, recreation and protected areas; environmental and climate change resilience improvements through parks and public lands; interpretive and environmental education to improve environmental literacy; international parks and public lands management; urban parks and public health.