USM鈥檚 Green Honored by International Recreational Therapy Education Organization
Fri, 05/12/2023 - 12:04pm | By: David Tisdale
Dr. Frederick (Rick) Green, a professor of recreational therapy in The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM) College of Nursing and Health Professions鈥�
School of Health Professions, recently earned the SMART CEUs Hub Educator of the Year Award. The recognition goes
to a recreational therapy educator who has been a leader in expanding the field of
therapeutic recreation through collaboration, education and/or research.
provides post-graduate recreational therapy education for practitioners and educators with a wide variety of continuing education programming taught by recreational therapy experts. According to the organization, more than 4,000 recreational therapists (RTs) from the U.S. and Canada use its services to attain continuing education in the field.
A member of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. Dr. Green is a veteran
educator and recreational therapist. He received bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in
recreation from 51逗奶 Illinois University-Carbondale, and a Ph.D. in therapeutic
recreation from the University of Minnesota, where his research focused on community
inclusion of adults with disabilities.
At USM, Dr. Green taught Introduction to Recreational Therapy, Inclusive Recreation
& Sport for a Diverse Society, Seminar in Recreation, Adaptive Activities and Techniques
in Recreational Therapy, Procedures in Recreational Therapy, and Professional Issues
in Recreational Therapy. He plans to retire at the end of the current academic year.
One of Dr. Green鈥檚 students, Chrysten Broome, a rising senior in the USM Honors College from Prentiss, Mississippi, nominated him for the award. In her recommendation, Broome wrote:
鈥淒r. Green is an amazing professor. This is his last year as a full-time teacher, and he has been extremely influential in developing my passion and interest for RT (recreational therapy) as well as many other students at The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi. If you think of RT or accessibility and have any questions, he is the person everyone goes to for advice. He has had an amazing career and has put so much into this profession, so I believe he deserves this award.
鈥淒r. Green has also led our program to being accredited this year and has published many research articles. He has led and grown our program for many years and has made it what it is today, and I am so grateful. Through his dedication, so many students like me have been able to find their passion and that is something that can never be replaced."
Dr. Green said he is 鈥渉onored, and a bit surprised鈥� to be recognized with the award, and especially grateful the recommendation came from one of the top students in the school鈥檚 program.
鈥淎s an educator, you obviously want to make a connection with your students, so to receive this award through her recommendation means so much to me,鈥� he continued.
Dr. Lachel Story, professor and dean of the USM College of Nursing and Health Professions, praised Dr. Green for 鈥渂uilding a legacy of excellence in recreational therapy throughout his 46-year career as an RT and his 23 years at the University.鈥�
鈥淗e no doubt has impacted numerous generations of therapists through his teaching and mentoring, who have then improved the health of countless people,鈥� Dr. Story continued. 鈥淗e will be deeply missed after his retirement, but I know his legacy and impact will remain.鈥�