Past Award Winners: A–M

Dr. Kimberly Hieftje is an assistant professor at Yale Pediatrics and Director of XRPeds, which focuses on the development and evaluation of videogame interventions using extended reality (virtual/augmented reality) for health prevention and promotion, behavior change, and education in adolescents and young adults.

She earned her B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. from SPH-B and has led teams in the development of game interventions focused on e-cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco use prevention; HIV/STI prevention and testing; bystander intervention; LGBTQ+ bullying; mental health promotion; and infection prevention control in NICU settings.

Dr. Hieftje has received funding from the NIH, CDC, and Connecticut Department of Public Health, and served as a keynote speaker nationally and internationally on the use of extended reality in clinical and health applications. She also serves as editor-in-chief of Games For Health Journal, the first-ever peer-reviewed journal focused on game research, technologies, and applications as they relate to human health and well-being.

Dr. Nola Agha holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington and received her PhD from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Sport Management at the University of San Francisco.

Professor Agha teaches courses in quantitative analysis and strategic management and previously taught sport finance and sport economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She worked in international business operations for several years and has also consulted to the sport and fitness industry by conducting economic impact studies, competitive analysis, and feasibility studies for clients in MLB, NBA, minor league hockey, local organizing committees, and fitness organizations.

Professor Agha's research interests lie at the intersection of finance, economics, and strategic management. She studies public goods and externalities, the economic impacts of teams and stadiums, the efficiency and equity outcomes of stadium subsidies, and a variety of issues related to minor league baseball.

Leaving the U.S.Army in January 2013, Lieutenant General (retired) Mark Hertling recently served as a Senior Vice President at the Florida Hospital in Orlando from 2013-2017, and now acts as an advisor to the Advent Health Leadership Institute. He designed and teaches a physician and healthcare strategic leadership development program. He has written on a variety of topics, and his book Growing Physician Leaders was published in May 2016.

Lieutenant General Hertling received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1975 and went on to earn a Master's in Science degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University's School of Public Health, and other Master's degrees from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and the National War College. In 2019, he received a Doctorate in Business Administration from the Crummer School at Rollins College.

During his career, he received many military honors,
including, but not limited to, three awards of the Distinguished Service Medal, six awards of the Legion of Merit, five Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor. Upon retiring, he was appointed by President Obama to be one of 25 members of the President's Council on Fitness, Sport, and Nutrition from 2014-2017.

Dr. S. Kay Burrus served Indiana University with honor and distinction for over 39 years. She received her B.S. (1959) and M.S. (1962) degrees from SIU. She later completed her Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in 1974.

Dr. Burrus taught at Sterling High School in Illinois for 3 years, and then moved on to SIU as an Associate Instructor in the Department of Physical Education for Women. Dr. Burrus came to Indiana University in 1962 as an Instructor and Coach in the Department of Physical Education for Women, and then in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. In addition to being an instructor, Dr. Burrus was a highly successful coach of the women's field hockey team from 1962-1976 and the women’s basketball team from 1963-1967.

Once Dr. Burrus earned her Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, she served as an invaluable member of the Exercise Physiology faculty in the Department of Physical Education, later renamed the Department of Kinesiology. During her tenure she made significant contributions to the school through service, teaching, and research missions. Dr. Burrus was actively involved in many professional organizations, most notably serving as President of the Midwest Association for College and University Physical Education from 1987-1990. Dr. Burrus was named Associate Dean for Academic Program Administration in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (later renamed School of Public Health–Bloomington) in 1987. Her sensitivity and friendly accessibility to the students, attention to detail, and quiet wisdom made her a most valuable and respected administrator. Dr. Burrus dedicated her professional life to the betterment of the Department of Kinesiology.

A 1969 graduate in Recreation, Dale Leff has remained involved at Indiana University and especially the Kinsey Institute and the Jacobs School of Music. She endowed the peg Brand Chair in Gender Studies and she has received a Distinguished Alumni Service Award, bestowed to her by the IU Alumni Association.

Most impressively, Dale is founding co-chair, along with IU First Lady Laurie Burns McRobbie, of the IU Foundation's Women's Philanthropy Council. Through her decades of work and leadership, women now have a platform to cultivate their increasingly important role in fundraising and volunteerism at Indiana University which has directly benefited the School of Public Health.

Mary Boutain completed her M.P.H. degree in Behavioral, Social and Community Health in May 2009. As a graduate student, Mary was involved in both campus and community public health efforts. She was a member of the student organization Master of Public Health Association, where she assisted in the development and implementation of programs for college students. Mary took advantage of practice and research opportunities in order to enrich her academic experiences and to become integrated as an advocate of public health initiatives in her community. The number and quality of her contributions to the school is staggering.

Since graduating, Ms. Boutain served as an external reviewer for M.P.H. synthesis papers and as a Subject Matter Expert for Public Health and You, our school's online course for Hoosier health workers. She assists the faculty with guest lectures and service learning projects and has been a preceptor for a number of graduate and undergraduate internships.

Ms. Boutain was inducted as an inaugural member into the national public health honorary Delta Omega chapter at IU. Members are inducted through a highly selective process that assesses their outstanding performance and devotion to the field.

She shows students the path from engaged scholars to employed professionals. Her successes encourage faculty; efforts at mastery in teaching are rewarded through alumni success. Staff are inspired at her willingness to share her time and talents in addition to the many requirements of her leadership position at Area 10. She is the personification of alumni service.

Scott Chakan graduated from Indiana University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from the School of Public Health-Bloomington. An accomplished and creative leader, Scott Chakan has demonstrated exemplary leadership credentials that cut across many industries. These include entrepreneurial businesses engaged in financial services, wholesale distribution, technology, investment management, manufacturing and professional services. An innovative, conceptual thinker, he has nearly 15 years experience as an executive, business adviser, strategic planner, execution management specialist and leader to highly driven entrepreneurial organizations and their teams.

Mr. Chakan has advised hundreds of business owners across the United States, and has assisted in developing unique sales distribution and training programs for various industries over the past decade, as well as other processes centered on sales, sales management, operational excellence, and corporate finance to help business owners significantly expand the value of their businesses and develop strong, inspired successful teams.

Mr. Chakan currently serves as the Director of Operations for Cassady Neeser Brasseur, a member of The Horton Group, Inc., and is involved in many community organizations including the Indiana University Foundation and Indiana University Varsity Club. Scott also serves as a current member of the School of Public Health-Bloomington Dean's Alliance Board.

David R. Austin holds his B.A. from Union College in Kentucky, his M.S. degree from IU, and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. Professor Austin was on the faculty of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at IU for 29 years. Within his home department he served as a University Division Academic Advisor; Coordinator of the Therapeutic Recreation Program; Graduate Studies Coordinator; Director of the Leisure Research Institute; and author and director of 3 state grants and 5 federal grants. For the School of Public Health he was: Coordinator of Distance Education; a member and chair of HPER's Promotion and Tenure Committee; a member and chair of HPER's Research Council; and a member and chair of HPER's Academic Council. At the university level he was: a member of the Bloomington Faculty Council; a member of the University Budget Committee; faculty representative to the University Athletics Committee; and a member of the AAUP Board. Professor Austin's activities within his profession have included: Founding Member of one state and two national organizations; most frequent visitor for the National Council on Accreditation; serving as a consultant; presenting at workshops; giving professional talks throughout the United States, as well as in Puerto Rico, Canada, England, Ireland, and Australia; authoring or coauthoring scholarly articles and 5 major textbooks; serving on the NRPA Board of Trustees; and serving as president of 3 national organizations, including the Academy of Leisure Sciences. In addition, Professor Austin has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Union College in Kentucky for the past 8 years. Professor Austin is the only individual to have received the National Therapeutic Recreation Society's Distinguished Service Award, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association's Distinguished Fellow Award, and the Society of Park and Recreation Educator's Distinguished Fellow Award. He has received the Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award from Union College and has been named to the Union College Hall of Fame. He was presented the Brightbill Award by the University of Illinois and has received the NRPA Literary Award. Professor Austin counts as his greatest achievement being awarded Indiana University's highest teaching award, the Frederic Bachman Lieber Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Dr. Kele Ding is an Assistant Professor of Health Education and Promotion at Kent State University in Ohio. Dr. Ding received his bachelor's degree in Western Medicine from Wenzhou Medical College, China, in 1982. He practiced general surgery in Hangzhou City Hospital of Chinese Traditional Medicine between 1982 and 1992. In fall 1992 he came to the United States to pursue further education, receiving his master's degree in Community Health Education from Western Illinois University and his doctorate in Health Behavior from Indiana University Bloomington. Since coming to the United States, he has authored or co-authored 18 professional journal articles and seven technical reports, mostly in the areas of research methods, quantitative data analysis in youth health behaviors, substance use, and trend analysis. Dr. Ding has worked in the academic setting since 2000. He was an assistant professor of health education at Idaho State University from 2000 to 2005, before he joined Kent State University. He has extensive vast experience at undergraduate, master's, and doctorate levels. Subjects taught include Drug use and Misuse, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Research Method and Data Analysis, Social and Behavioral Theories, instrument development, and program evaluation.

Dr. Melissa Heston received her undergraduate degree in physical education from Oklahoma State University in 1980 and her master's degree in physical education from Indiana University in 1982. She then pursued doctoral work in human performance, focusing on motor development, and in educational psychology, focusing on child development at Indiana University, completing her Ph.D. in 1989. Dr. Heston began her career in the Educational Psychology and Foundations department at the University of Northern Iowa in fall 1989, achieving the rank of Associate Professor. In 2008, she became interim Director of Teacher Education and is currently serving as the Coordinator of Elementary Teacher Education and a member of the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Throughout her career, Dr. Heston has been deeply involved in departmental, college, university and professional service. Her current research interests are specifically centered on the self-study of teacher education practices, and more broadly on leadership and excellence in college teaching.

Nick DiGrino has a bachelor's degree in Recreation from Kent State University, a master's in Recreation and Park Administration from Indiana University, and the Ph.D. in Recreation Resources Development from Texas A&M University. Dr. DiGrino currently serves as Dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Western Illinois University, the largest academic college at WIU. He joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Recreation in 1976 and was named Chair of the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration in 1986. Dr. DiGrino was named Associate Dean for Administration in 2004 and Dean in 2009. Reporting directly to the Provost and Academic Vice President, Dr. DiGrino is responsible for the administration of the College. The College is comprised of the Departments of Health Sciences; Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising and Hospitality; Kinesiology; Law Enforcement and Justice Administration; Military Science; Social Work; and Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration; Special Education; Curriculum and Instruction; Educational Leadership; and Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies. Nearly 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students are seeking degrees through these departments. The College also operates a number of centers and institutes.

Dr. DiGrino is well known nationally in the area of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies. Along with presenting his research at state, national, and international conferences and symposia, he has authored or co-authored numerous articles central to the recreation and leisure services field in research journals and professional magazines. His organizational involvements have included Illinois Park & Recreation Association Board of Directors, National Park & Recreation Association Publications Committee, Society of Park and Recreation Educators Board of Directors and Registration Committee Chair, and Illinois Community Educators Association Board of Directors & President. His awards and honors include Kent State University's School of Exercise, Leisure, and Sport Distinguished Alumni Award; Indiana University's Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies' Garrett G. Eppley Distinguished Alumni Award, American Leisure Academy and Senior Fellow for the American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration. Dr. DiGrino's career at Western Illinois has been a distinguished one. He has showed both the intelligence and perseverance in the solution of difficult administrative problems. He demonstrates an openness of communication, a candor of insight, and a willingness to work cooperatively with others that is both conducive to effective results and good will.

Dr. Andrew Kanu received three degrees from Indiana University including a bachelor's in general studies in 1989, a master's in public health in 1993 and a Ph.D. in health and safety in 1997. Prior to his education at IU, he attended the University of Sierra Leone in West Africa where he studied chemistry and biology. Dr. Kanu has also completed post graduate studies at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Oxford University.

Upon receiving his doctorate, Dr. Kanu joined the faculty at Virginia State University working for both the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and the Graduate School. He currently serves as Interim Dean for the School of Liberal Arts and Education.

Dr. Kanu has received professional awards and has been active in a number of professional organizations including the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, the American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAPHERD), and the American Association of Health Education (AAHE).

Jane H. Adams is the Executive Director of the California Park Recreation Society in Sacramento, California, one of the largest park and recreation professional organizations in the United States. Prior to CPRS, Ms. Adams served as the Regional Director, National Recreation Park Association, in Sacramento; Executive Director of the Wisconsin Park Recreation Association; Director of Recreation in the City of Webster Groves, Missouri; Recreation Complex Director in St. Louis County, Missouri: Recreation Center Director, U.S. Army in Europe; and Recreation Supervisor, Charles County, Maryland. Ms. Adams professional accomplishments are extensive. She is the past president of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, current President of the AIPE/American Academy Foundation, and continues to serve on numerous committees and task forces for the National Recreation and Park Association. She also serves on the Dean's Leadership Council, College of Health Human Development at Penn State University; the Advisory Board, Recreation Leisure Services Department at California State University in Sacramento; and has served as a Dean's Associate for the School of Public Health. She is the recipient of the President's Award, American Academy for Park Recreation Administration; Garrett G. Eppley Distinguished Alumni Award, Indiana University; and Alumna of the Year, Southern Illinois University, Department of Parks and Recreation. She completed her master's degree in Recreation from Indiana University in 1971.

Debra Wright Knapp serves as an Associate Professor and the Director of Dance at New Mexico State University. She has also been on the dance faculties of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana University-Bloomington, University of New Mexico, and the Palucca School Academy of Performing Arts in Dresden, Germany. She has danced professionally with the Bill Evans Dance Company in Albuquerque, the Semperoper Ballet Company in Dresden, Germany, the Nora Reynolds Dance Company and Danzantes Dance Company in Albuquerque, InMotion Dance Company in Indianapolis, and the Windfall Dancers in Bloomington. Her professional career has also included roles as the Artistic Director for the Windfall Dancers and Windfall Movement Center, the rehearsal director and modern dance trainer for the Semperoper Ballet, the Artistic Coordinator of Celebrate Youth Summer Dance and the Bill Evans Summer Dance Institute, and guest choreographer and instructor for universities and colleges throughout the United States. Her creative endeavors in education have included researching and implementing movement programs that enhance the curriculum for the kinesthetic learner for pre-school, elementary and middle school students. She is a dance/movement specialist for Young Audiences of Indiana and the Arkansas Arts-in-Education program. Dr. Knapp has also served as dance chairperson for the development of dance proficiency for the Indiana Department of Education. Dr. Knapp completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Physical Education from Indiana University. She continues to freelance as a choreographer, performer, and dance instructor.

Since 2000, Suzanne Crouch has been the Director of the Coordinated School Health Program and the Acting Health Education/Physical Education Consultant for the Indiana Department of Education. In her role, she serves as an advocate for children's health and programs that promote healthy students. She is the primary state government consultant and public matter expert for physical education and health education for all citizens, teachers and educational administrators of Indiana. She is responsible for monitoring legislative action and provides recommendations to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Legislative Liaison about the bills that refer to physical education and health. She is also responsible for developing the state's physical education and health education standards as well as supporting documentation. A regular speaker at workshops, meetings, conventions and training sessions, Dr. Crouch helps to develop and organize professional development opportunities for Indiana health education and physical education teachers. Besides her most recent leadership role in state government, her professional career has been quite varied. She has held roles in private business, not-for-profit management, public school teaching and administration, university instruction, and work with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Dr. Crouch earned three degrees from Indiana University; a B.S. in physical education; an M.S. in physical education and coaching; and a P.E. Directorate in athletic administration.

Since 2003, Thomas Feldman has served as Service Line Director, Physician Service at Methodist Medical Center of Illinois (MMCI) in Peoria, Illinois. His responsibilities have included but have not been limited to physician contracting, development, and maintenance of compensation plans. His position, which reports directly to the CEO of MMCI, is accountable for an annual operating budget of over $60 million and approximately 400 full-time equivalents. MMCI is a multi-specialty hospital-owned provider group working from 30 locations in Central Illinois. Specialties include, but are not limited to; Cardiology, Psychiatry, Urgent Care, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Rheumatology, ENT and Internal Medicine. Prior to his most recent leadership position, Tom performed in the role as Director, Ambulatory Services Practice Management at MMCI in which he was responsible for operations in ten locations offering radiology, pathology, same-day surgery, and routine office visits which were staffed by over 30 physicians of varying specialties on time-share arrangements. Tom has also served as a consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Chicago, and as an administrator for Program Development at Chicago Children's Memorial Medical Center. In 1995, he earned his master's degree in public health from Indiana University. He also holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Elizabeth Monnier is a founding member and current Artistic Director of the Fort Wayne Dance Collective (FWDC). A 1977 graduate of Indiana University's Modern Dance program, Liz is the recipient of numerous arts awards including the Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, as well as a Margaret Ann Keegan Award for excellence in the arts in education, and several Philo T. Farnsworth awards for her work in video production for public access television. Monnier has studied professionally with internationally renowned artists including, Alwin Nikolais, Joe Goode, Remy Charlip, and Ruth Zaporah.

Since 1985, Monnier has been instrumental in bringing to northeast Indiana audiences, cutting edge choreography from companies including Philobolus, Urban Bush Women, Garth Fagan Dance, and the Trisha Brown Dance Company. In her role as arts advocate, the FWDC became a part of the Indiana Arts Commission Artists-in-Education Program, which expanded the organizations' ability to take dance and the arts statewide. As the Artistic Director of the FWDC, Monnier has been a vital force in promoting the youth Outreach Program, which serves social service agencies with dance other related arts such as drumming, poetry, and puppetry. The "Identity Bridge" program was chosen as a 2005 "Coming Up Taller" semi-finalist by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and its partner agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Under Monnier's leadership, the FWDC continues to serve over 26,000 children, youth, adults, and adults with disabilities, in the greater Fort Wayne Community.

As a dance educator for over 25 years, Monnier has also served as Adjunct Dance faculty (Indiana Institute of Technology) since 2004. During her career, she has held several other academic teaching positions at various institutions including St. Francis College in Fort Wayne, Taylor University in Fort Wayne, West Chester University in Pennsylvania, New Mexico University in Los Cruces, New Mexico, and the Indiana Business College in Fort Wayne. She is the holder of several grants representing many dance initiatives, and she has written several regional and national publications.

Dr. Peter Cunningham is a Professor of Recreation and Leisure Services at Middle Tennessee State University. Recently, he has also served in the role of Interim Associate Dean in the College of Graduate Studies. Dr. Cunningham considers himself to be one of the very luckiest of people. As a first generation college student he has had the opportunity to earn three university degrees including a doctorate in park and recreation management from Indiana University in 1985. As a professional he has served in leadership positions in public recreation (Director of Parks and Recreation, Daviess County Kentucky) and association management (Executive Director of the Indiana Parks and Recreation Association). As a professor he has had the opportunity to be a member of the faculty of three accredited academic programs (Longwood College, Florida State University, and Middle Tennessee State University). In each stage of his career he has benefited from the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the outstanding leaders in the parks and recreation profession.

During his academic career he has published in a wide range of academic journals, presented his research at national and international symposia, and had the opportunity to deliver invited lectures at three international universities. He has also served in a variety of administrative positions including Curriculum Coordinator, Graduate Coordinator, Assistant to the Dean and Interim Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and Director of the Ronald McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program. In addition to teaching and administrative duties he has served as Principal Investigator on research contracts and grants totaling almost $2,000,000. He is honored to have been recognized by his peers through their election of him to the Presidency of the Society of Park and Recreation Educators for 2005-2006.

Dr. Cunningham and his wife Karen have two children, Sarah and Ben. They are members of First United Methodist Church of Murfreesboro where Peter served as chair of the Trustees. He is also past chairman of the Richard Siegel Foundation and is involved in a number of community activities.

Dr. Tami Benham Deal is an associate professor in the Division of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Wyoming. Dr. Benham Deal has published numerous articles on developmentally appropriate physical education, physical activity in childhood, and standards-based education. She has been the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on contracts and research grants totaling more than $450,000. For the past five years, she has been a consultant to the Wyoming Department of Education for Health and Physical Education and has provided technical assistance to all of Wyoming's 48 school districts in education reform issues related to health and physical education. In her professional development workshops teachers learn how to align their curriculum, instruction, and assessment to state standards. Given the geographical barriers inherent to a large, frontier state, Dr. Benham Deal has created statewide list-serves and developed web-sites to keep Wyoming teachers informed about current research in the field, best practices, and professional development opportunities.

Dr. Benham Deal's service contributions extend beyond the state of Wyoming. She currently serves as the chair for the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) State Collaborative on Assessment of Student Standards (SCASS) Health Education Project (HEAP). In recognition of her service contributions, she was awarded the University of Wyoming, College of Health Science's 2005 Meritorious Service Award. In addition to working with pre-service teachers and practitioners, Dr. Benham Deal especially enjoys the challenges of teaching. Her courses include lifespan motor development, preschool movement program teaching experience, lifespan growth and psychomotor development, and research methods in kinesiology and health.

Dr. Benham Deal completed her B.S., M.S. and P.E.D. all from the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Indiana University.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Lubitz serves as Executive Director of Academic Affairs and Research at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. In this role, he oversees education programs for nearly 150 resident physicians-in-training and over 200 medical students annually, as well as nearly 2,000 hours of continuing medical education programs for practicing physicians. He supervises the Primary Care Center, home to the resident/student clinics, and clinics for the uninsured/needy that see more than 70,000 visits per year. Dr. Lubitz directs the Research and Research Regulatory Departments, managing nearly 600 active research projects and three IRB/human subjects protection programs across St. Vincent Hosptial and St. Vincent Health facilities. In addition, he is responsible for the St. Vincent Medical Library, medical staff disaster preparation plan, and the St. Vincent Hospital Pandemic/Avian Flu Plan.

Dr. Lubitz is a graduate of the University Of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Tennessee, then completed a three-year General Internal Medicine Fellowship at Indiana University. He received a Master's in Public Health from Indiana University in 1992, after which he devoted his efforts to a teaching/research career at the IU School of Medicine. He joined the St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital faculty in January, 1996. Dr. Lubitz was elected President of the American College of Physicians Indiana Chapter in 2004, and will serve until 2008. In this position, he represents nearly 3000 Indiana physicians at the state and federal level on issues germane to the practice of medicine and needs of patients.

Dr. Lubitz's interests include public health, clinical epidemiology, international health, and health policy. He is a Volunteer Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and is on the faculty at Purdue University, the IU Regenstrief Institute and the IU Bowen Center. He is involved in a number of research projects, publishes regularly, and has received both local and federal research and teaching grants. He has three children, maintains an active clinical practice of general internal medicine, and has been honored as a Top Doctor in the United States. His wife, Dr. Judith Monroe, is a family physician at St. Vincent and currently serves as the Indiana State Health Commissioner and Medical Director of Medicaid.

David R. Hopkins has enjoyed a career in academic administration and instruction following the completion of his doctorate in physical education from IU in 1976. Currently, he serves as provost for Wright State University. Some of his previous appointments included the following positions at Indiana State University: senior vice president for Academic Affairs and interim dean of the School of Business; associate vice president for Academic Affairs; and chair and professor of physical education. He has also held academic positions at the University of Texas and the University of Minnesota. He has many refereed research publications and abstracts, has presented at many national conferences, and recently served as project director of a major Lilly Endowment grant. Prior to his doctoral work at IU, Hopkins completed bachelor's and master's degrees at the College of Wooster in Ohio.

Wendy Z. Hultsman received her master's degree at IU in 1977 and has served in many professional recreation, parks, and tourism capacities during the past three decades. She currently serves as department chair and associate professor in Recreation and Tourism Management at Arizona State University West in Phoenix. She is a highly respected speaker and has participated in dozens of presentations at professional conferences nationwide. She is author of numerous publications including books that address park planning strategies and functional planning and evaluation of park support systems. She is the recipient of awards from Arizona State University West, Camp Fire Council of Greater Arizona, the National University of Continuing Education Association, and SUNY Cortland. In addition to her degree from IU, Hultsman also has a bachelor's degree from SUNY Cortland and a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

George Holland, a native of Grandview, Indiana (Spencer County), is a 1981 graduate of South Spencer High School. He received his bachelor's in Health and Safety in 1985 and his M.P.H. in 1987 from the Indiana University School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. While attending Indiana University, George worked as an AI for William Bailey, Ruth Engs, and James Crowe and worked as a Resident Assistant in the dorms, where he lived for four years.

Following his graduation from Indiana University, George assumed the role of professional representative to Smith Kline Glaxo in St. Louis, Missouri. He then assumed the position of Industrial Sales Specialist for Curtin Matheson Scientific. Currently, he serves as a Technical Specialist for EZEM in St. Louis. His responsibilities at EZEM include promotion of colonoscopy as a screening tool for colon cancer and establishing screening centers for both the public and private sector. Mr. Holland has received numerous awards for his efforts at EZEM including Key Account Manager of the Year for both 2000 and 2001. He also serves as an instructor of virtual colonoscopy for hospitals throughout the Midwest.

Mr. Holland currently serves as the President of the Indiana University Alumni Club of St. Louis, and has been in that position for the past four years.

Jim Murphy is Professor and Chair, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, San Francisco State University. Dr. Murphy received his B.A. in Recreation from San Francisco State University (1966), M.S. with Honors in Recreation and Park Administration from Indiana University (1967) and Ph.D. from Oregon State University (1972). Following graduation from Indiana University Dr. Murphy was selected to participate in a one year NRPA internship with the Baltimore, Maryland, Bureau of Recreation. Upon completion of the internship, Dr. Murphy was appointed to a lecturer position with the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at San Jose State University and he served in that capacity for two and one-half years until 1970. He left to work on his doctorate and upon completion returned to San Jose State in 1972 and remained there until 1979 rising in rank from Assistant Professor to Professor with tenure. During this time he participated as a speaker and facilitator at numerous local, state, regional and national professional conferences and workshops and published important articles and textbooks primarily on the topics of philosophical/conceptual and leisure service delivery/administrative perspectives of leisure. Similarly, he was involved in the early stages of the advancement of scholarship of the profession as he served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Leisure Research and Editorial Advisor for Leisure Today.

Dr. Murphy left San Jose State in 1979 to become Chair of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Northeastern University (Boston), and served there until 1981. It was during this timeframe that he was elected President of the Society of Park and Recreation Educators where he served on the board of SPRE for his second tenure. Dr. Murphy returned to San Jose State University as Graduate Coordinator and remained there until 1983. It was at this time he retired from teaching and began a career managing an antique, art, and home décor auction and mail order company. He remained in that capacity until 1986 when he returned to higher education as Chair of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at San Francisco State University. During this period Jim served as Editor and Co-editor of Schole. Jim served as chair until 1993 when he "retired" again to enter the private sector. Working with his wife, Dr. Roxanne Howe-Murphy, he co-created a packaged gourmet food business in Taos, New Mexico. They believed it was important to develop a healthy food product and be an eco-sensitive manufacturer working cooperatively with local area groups. Part of the profits were donated to the Taos Land Trust and unused food products were donated to the Tewa Indians of the Taos Pueblo. The business was eventually sold in 1996. Between then and 1999 Dr. Murphy served as a lecturer and Intern Coordinator at San Jose State University and part-time instructor at San Francisco State. He returned again to the private sector in 1999 as General Manager of Somerset Auction Co. and worked there until 2002. Dr. Murphy returned to San Francisco State in 2002 as a lecturer and then in 2003 was selected to serve again as Chair of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies.

Jim has authored, co-authored, edited and co-edited 7 textbooks including Concepts of Leisure, Leisure Service Delivery System, Recreation and Leisure Service for the Disadvantaged, and Leisure Systems. He has written many professional and juried articles and conducted numerous workshops and made many presentations at state, regional, national and international conferences. He is the recipient of NRPA's National Literary Award (1992) and the Garrett G. Eppley Distinguished Alumni Award of Indiana University's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies (1983). Dr. Murphy also has had a scholarship named for him at San Jose State University (1984). He served a total of 6 years on the SPRE Board of Directors, including one term as President. He is a Charter Fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences (1980).

Over the past 22 years Jim Murphy has helped nonprofit organizations raise over $20,000,000 as a benefit auction and event consultant and auctioneer. He takes particular pride as the overall Principal Investigator and Director of the Pacific Leadership Institute that he helped establish in 1991 that generates over $250,000 in annual fees, grants and contracts to provide important intervention and leadership development programs to over 5,000 underserved, at-risk youth and families on an annual basis.

Steve Kintigh attended Trinity University and graduated with a degree is business in 1976. He then enrolled in graduate school at Indiana University, accepted a partial assistantship with the division of recreational sports, and earned his M.S. the following year. This opened the door to a full-time position at the University of Dayton. He was offered the job as assistant director primarily due to the fact that he had attended IU. After seven years at Dayton, the opportunity to return to Texas as a director of recreational sports opened. Steve was hired as the first director of recreational sports at Texas Christian University at the age of 30, in 1984.

Looking back over Steve's career it is easy to see that he was highly motivated toward serving the profession and the community. As you review his resume you notice a number of other firsts:

• First host of the Indiana State Recreational Sports Workshop.
• First host of the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Mid-east Regional Conference.
• First host of the NIRSA Region IV Conference.
• First president of the Ohio Recreational Sports Association.
• First president of "Kids Who Care," a nonprofit children's organization in Ft. Worth.
• First recipient of the Ohio Recreational Sports Honor Award.
• First recipient of the TCU Chancellor's Award for University Programming.

Additionally, Steve has been selected for four other TCU service awards, has been active in his church where he currently serves as a trustee, has served on the YMCA Board, and volunteered for the Adopt-a-School program. Professionally, he has made over 20 regional and national presentations, published three articles, served on numerous NIRSA committees, been assigned to two NIRSA Presidential Task forces, received the NIRSA Service Award, and been presented with the NIRSA Region IV Award of Merit. Last but not least, this spring he opened a 216,000 sq. ft., $30 million recreation center at TCU. Coincidentally, but not surprisingly, another IU grad, Mary Ellen Milam, was Steve's most significant support through this project and is starting her 10th year as his associate director.

None of this would have happened without the love and support of his wife, Dr. Monica Kintigh, and his daughter, Katie. They have seen him through the long hours, late nights, misguided administrators, and two kidney transplants. They are the sparkle in his eye. This summer they celebrated what Steve considers his greatest accomplishment, 25 years of marriage.