Ph.D., LRT, CTRS

Lindsey R. Oakes, Ph.D., LRT, CTRS is currently an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Recreational Therapy program of study in the Department of Recreation Sciences at East Carolina University. Dr. Oakes also currently serves as a Senior Associate within a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, InFocus Advocacy (https://www.infocusadvocacy.org/). She has previously served as the Recreational Therapy Program Director and an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University. Prior to her time at Temple University, Dr. Oakes served as an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) of Therapeutic Recreation in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas State University. She received her Ph.D. in Public Health Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and served as the Student Support Coordinator at the University of North Carolina Greensboro's inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program, Integrative Community Studies, for four years where she supported college students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) and started the provision of recreational therapy services to enrolled students with IDD. Dr. Oakes' research interests include the overall health/wellness and community inclusion of individuals and college students with IDD, inclusion of individuals and college students with IDD in community recreation and campus recreation, best practices for inclusive service delivery within community-based and campus-based recreation, use of virtual reality among individuals with IDD, recreational therapy within IPSE programs, and use of photovoice with individuals with disabilities to increase community inclusion. Her research has included qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, and community-based participatory action research methodologies.

B.S., LRT, CTRS, CARSS I

Casey is currently a Recreation Sciences master’s student with a concentration in Recreational Therapy Administration in the Department of Recreation Sciences at East Carolina University. Casey also serves as Dr. Lindsey Oakes’ graduate assistant. Casey’s master’s thesis project is focused on understanding the negative relationship between screen time and mental health in college students. Casey completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Recreational Therapy in the Department of Recreation Sciences at East Carolina University.