Jessica Faustini Aquino

In 2013 I graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with a Doctorate of Philosophy in Community Resources and Development; I also hold a Master of Science in Recreation and Tourism Studies (2008) and a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology (2004). My research interests are in tourism experience from the perspective of residents and tourists; and the potential contribution that tourism has on community development and conservation of protected areas. In particular, my research focuses on volunteer tourism, sustainable tourism, community-based tourism, resident attitudes toward tourism, and the human relationships with natural settings.My doctoral research project was on volunteer tourism in favela communities of Rio de Janeiro. This phenomenological qualitative study examines the experiences of volunteer tourism on host communities using social representations theory. The experiences of three stakeholder-groups (community residents, volunteers, and nongovernmental organizations) were considered.