Whitney Knollenberg's, Ph.D., research focuses on the role of leadership in the forces that shape tourism development, including planning, power, policy, and partnerships. Recently she has examined political leaders in tourism and tourism advocates and their efforts to gain political influence for the industry. Whitney has also studied how leadership and its connections to power and partnerships can initiate and sustain successful rural tourism development. Her continuing research strives to understand how tourism leaders can utilize planning, power, policy, and partnerships to support sustainable tourism development.