Sean Michael

Field: Landscape Architecture
Areas of Focus: Criminology, Environmental Design, Product Design

Expertise

• Business in design
• Crime prevention CPTED
• Landscape architecture
• Vehicle-based adventure travel
• Outdoor product history
• Overland travel

Bio

Dr. Sean Michael holds a joint appointment in two USU design programs: Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning, and Outdoor Product Design & Development. He held faculty positions at Texas Tech and Washington State Universities before serving as Dept. Head at USU for twelve years. He is a Fellow and former President of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, and recipient of its Outstanding Administrator Award, and is a Distinguished Alumnus of West Virginia University and Texas A&M.

Dr. Michael’s scholarship explores the role of business in the education, and professional success, of landscape architects. In 2020, he served as Design Workshop’s Faculty-in-Residence, studying the significance of business practices in the firm’s 50+ year history. He teaches Foundations of Business in Landscape Architecture & Planning, and led development of the new Certificate in Design Entrepreneurship. Additionally, he teaches the program’s Introduction to the Professoriate, a transdisciplinary doctoral course.

His past research on the relationship between landscapes and criminal behavior has been widely disseminated, developed into a LACES course for the American Society of Landscape Architects, and has been used to train recreation managers, planners, and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) consultants. In conjunction with SafeGrowth, he co-authored the world’s premiere bibliography on crime prevention research.

A Professor of, and former Director for, the Outdoor Product Design & Development Program, he teaches and researches the history of vehicle-based adventure travel, and the evolution of outdoor gear from aboriginal peoples to 21st Century trends. Dr. Michael outdoor passion began in Appalachia, and included a PhD in Wildland Recreation from Virginia Tech. He has partnered with leading brands including Klim, BFGoodrich, Warn Winches, Cabelas and Alpinestars on product R&D and testing, has served as an industry critic and consultant since 2000, and has been a brand Ambassador for Expion360, Mountain Khakis and EcoFlow.

Dr. Michael’s articles on safety products and long-term field testing have been featured in numerous publications, including ADVrider, Offroad.com, BMWMOA Owners News, and his illustrations in Climbing Magazine and related training books. A long-time instructor in adventure travel, his classes and talks have helped educate audiences at Overland Expo, SEMA, Outdoor Retailer, Adventure Van Expo and the Utah Outdoor Summit, covering topics from trends in the overlanding and solar power, to overland trailers and remote travel on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico.

His wife, Dolores, is a USU alumna, a licensed therapist, and an ultra athlete who teaches adventure travel and mental athletic performance classes for couples and individuals in remote and high-risk environments. Together their classes prepare others discover their best selves through technical training, skills development, and equipment for the backcountry.