2024 ATRA Annual Conference - Together We Thrive, Together We Rise

PhD, CTRS

Susan Purrington, Ph.D., CTRS is an innovative educator and researcher in the field of therapeutic recreation. She currently serves as an Associate Teaching Professor at Northern Arizona University and owns two businesses - SuPurr Innovations, LLC and Take Your Time, LLC – and is the Executive Director of welcomed here. Her research interests include generative AI, inclusive customer experiences, professional preparedness, fieldwork, and wearable technology in therapeutic recreation.

Purrington has an extensive background in higher education, having previously held faculty/instructor positions at SUNY Cortland, Douglas College, Indiana University, and California State University, Chico. She has taught a wide range of courses related to recreation, leisure studies, and therapeutic recreation interventions and assessments. Her commitment to teaching excellence is evident through her continual professional development presenting and publishing in the field.

PhD, LRT, CTRS, CARSS-II, FDRT

Dr. Brent Hawkins is a Professor and the Coordinator of the Recreation Therapy Program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Brent serves as the chair of the ATRA Academic Action Task Force.

PhD, CTRS

Gena Bell Vargas, PhD, CTRS, is the MSRT Program Director and an Associate Professor of Instruction in the RT program at Temple University. Her clinical background includes an urban acute psychiatric inpatient setting working with people experiencing symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, as well an inpatient physical rehabilitation with persons that have experienced strokes, TBIs, SCIs, and amputations. Recently, Gena has been getting back into the world of adventure programming, while also pursuing the scholarship of teaching and learning.

DHA, CTRS

Kirstin Whitely, DHA, CTRS is an Associate Professor of Therapeutic Recreation and Therapeutic Activities Minor Coordinator at Longwood University in Farmville, VA. Prior to joining academia, she gained 12 years clinical experience in acute, residential and 28-day inpatient psychiatric treatment focusing on trauma and substance use. Currently, Kirstin's focus is on researching, developing, and implementing high quality RT/TR curriculum.

PhD, CTRS, CFTG

Erik Luvaas, Ph.D., CTRS, CFTG is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Training Program at the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development and Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. Luvaas has a long history of working with and advocating for people of all abilities. He joins University of Idaho after 4.5 years as Assistant Professor of Recreational Therapy in the Department of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Administration at California State University, Sacramento. Prior to entering academia, he was the Recreational Therapist and Program Director for the Recreation Therapy & Movement Arts Program at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Portland, Oregon, and the Youth Sports Program Manager for the nonprofit Paralympic Sports Club, Adaptive Sports Northwest. He has also worked in psychiatric rehabilitation as a Rehabilitation Therapist at Oregon State Hospital and as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) for the Telecare Crisis and Treatment Center in Portland. Luvaas is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and enjoys facilitating nature experiences for clients and students.