Susan P
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Indiana University at Bloomington
Expertise
Delivery of recreation experiences, disabilities, inclusion, entrepreneurship, non-profit management
Bio
Susan Purrington, PhD, CTRS is a recreational therapist and professor (Northern Arizona University). Susan's background is in disability and leisure activity, but has a passion for understanding the lived experience of people from historically oppressed communities as they navigate leisure spaces. Further, Susan's research interests include understanding digital device use, student transition to college, and fieldwork experiences for recreational therapy. Personally, Susan is an avid crafter and attends an annual Pinners conference to learn new techniques. She loves to play board games and do puzzles, hike and go traveling, and playing with her young family. On a rainy/snowy day, there is nothing better than snuggling on the couch with my cat and reading a good book.Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
Understanding the Inclusive Customer Experience (ICX)
People with disabilities have constraints to participation in leisure activities. Part of those constraints are physical barriers and others' attitudes. Not much research has been done on understanding how a person feels included in a leisure space. The project could be a literature review, the development of a data collection tool, or testing an app that helps people identify inclusive spaces.
Teaching experience
I have taught undergraduate and graduate students in Communications, Recreational Therapy, Parks and Recreation Management, and Sociology for the past 15 years. I have also mentored students through academic advising, leisure education, and transition coaching.Credentials
Work experience
Northern Arizona University (2021 - Current)
Assistant Teaching Professor/Program CoordinatorDouglas College (2019 - 2021)
Faculty of Therapeutic RecreationSUNY Cortland (2016 - 2019)
Assistant ProfessorIndiana University (2012 - 2016)
Graduate Student - Project managerEducation
California State University
BS Bachelor of Science (2007)
Recreation Administration - Therapeutic RecreationCalifornia State University
MA Master of Arts (2010)
Recreation Administration - Event ManagementIndiana University at Bloomington
PhD Doctor of Philosophy (2017)
Leisure Behavior/Telecommunications