Emily Pack
Dec 17, 2025
When someone hears the term “sabbatical,” they probably think of resting, not working, and relaxing. For Dr. Whitney Knollenberg, it carries a different meaning.
Dr. Knollenberg is an associate professor at NC State University in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, and the department lead for the tourism extension for nearly 10 years.
During a typical academic year, she stays busy teaching classes each semester on Special Event Management, Intro to Tourism Management, and Evidence-Based Decision-Making.
This year, her schedule was much different than what it normally is. She was able to take a sabbatical and Scholarly Reassignment (thanks to the Lighthouse Fund for Sustainable Tourism) for 2025. This year has been rejuvenating for her, as she was able to live in the heart of Corolla Village and focus her research on the Workforce Support & Development along the Outer Banks. We’d frequently run into Whitney at local coffee shops, such as Shore Coffee, where she was chatting with locals and building connections to make her research possible.
Reflecting on her past year on the Outer Banks, here are five things she’s learned along the way:
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So many people love this place
And, so many people keep coming back to vacation! This is very powerful for a tourism destination. You don’t just come to the Outer Banks once and you forget about it. People keep coming back here because they love this place!
There’s something magical about seashells
Over the past year, Whitney has spent a few mornings each week walking the beach in search of the best finds with her dog, Lolly, and her collection has grown beautifully. Pro tip: the best shells tend to surface a few days after a northeast wind.
Living in Corolla Village is so special
From her house, she sees the same people every day walking their dogs, she can hear the laughter of the children at Water’s Edge Village School, go for a kayak adventure in the afternoon, and chat with the friendly baristas who are on a first-name basis with her at Kind Cup. For Whitney, it almost feels like the fictional town of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls.
Gone fishing!
Whitney and her husband, Hunter, have loved learning all about fishing on the Outer Banks. While Hunter occasionally fished in freshwater lakes near Raleigh, the past year has been spent discovering the thrill of saltwater fishing through countless surf and deep-sea adventures. One of Whitney’s former students at NC State, Tripp Phillips (Class of 2023), a fishing captain, has had the pleasure of taking both Whitney and Hunter out for many trips, rain or shine.
The Wind dictates everything you do on the Outer Banks!
A local of Corolla Village told Whitney and Hunter when they first moved here that they had to watch the wind. They brushed it off and figured they’d be fine. But now, that’s the first thing she checks in the morning, to see which direction, how fast it’s blowing; to determine if they should walk along the beach or the sound. You’re fine in the summertime, but the wind has a mind of its own in the spring and fall seasons.
What’s next for Whitney?
As Dr. Knollenberg returns to teaching full-time in January, she will certainly miss the peacefulness of the Outer Banks. She will carry forward the momentum of her research over the past year, working diligently to develop meaningful solutions for the Outer Banks workforce population. She’ll continue to host events for the Outer Banks Workforce Network, which can be found here. She is thrilled to have Ivy Cage, an Outer Banks local and NC State class of 2026, work as an Undergraduate Research Assistant.
We wish Dr. Knollenberg all the best as she returns to teaching at NC State. We will be sure to let her know when the fish are biting and if we find any good beach finds along the shore.
💙 Your friends at Twiddy & Company
