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

PhD, CTRS

Emily Messina is an Associate Professor of Recreational Therapy at Florida International University. She received her BS and MS in Recreation Studies with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Florida. She has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist since 2004, working within older adult and maximum security forensic mental health settings. She completed her doctoral degree in Public Health with an emphasis in Social Behavioral Health Science at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Emily worked as an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Therapeutic Recreation Program at Eastern Washington University for ten years before returning home to Miami. Emily currently serves as an Educator Representative on the CARTE Board and is also Co-Editor of the ATRA Annual. Emily’s research primarily explores the use of leisure as coping within marginalized population groups. She has also developed a passion for exploring and documenting the history of the Therapeutic Recreation profession. Emily enjoys paddleboarding, snorkeling, and exploring Florida’s beautiful state parks with her family and two rescue pups in their A-Liner Scout Lite camper.

PhD, CTRS

Melissa D’Eloia is an Associate Professor in the Recreation, Management and Leadership Program (RML) in the Department of Health and Human Development at Western Washington University. She has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for over 24 years working both as a therapist and educator. As a recreation therapist, she worked in a variety of settings including adapted outdoor recreation, community-based rehabilitation, and behavior health. At Western, she serves as the coordinator of RML’s therapeutic recreation concentration overseeing curriculum development, program assessment, and accreditation. In 2022, she joined the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) as an education representative and a year later became vice chair of the council. She is a new member of the editorial board for the Therapeutic Recreation Journal. Her scholarship bridges theory to practice with the aim of improving program delivery and outcome measurement. Her most recent projects include exploring TR history and charting new approaches to documenting the work and accomplishments of our leaders as well as evaluating the impact of a nature-based, peer mentoring program on student wellness. She has presented her work at the state, regional, national, and international levels. When she is not working, she can be found recreating, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors with her family.