School of Kinesiology and Recreation assistant director and professor Barbara Schlatter was inducted into the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AARPA) this fall.
To be a member of this elite group of 125 top professionals, an individual must hold a high-level administration position and/or be an esteemed educator in the field of park and recreation administration for no less than 15 years. Between Schlatter’s service as a youth development worker serving in the Peace Corps/Guatemala, her work at Illinois State University, and many other accomplishments, she is well qualified for membership in the AARPA. Schlatter was nominated by Joseph Bannon, former professor and department chair of recreation, sport, and tourism at the University of Illinois.
“It is very humbling to be nominated and accepted into a group that has members with national and international reputations. The members have always been seen as the best of the best. To become a member is something I never expected to happen in my career,” said Schlatter.
In addition to serving as the program director for recreation and park administration, and assistant director for the school of kinesiology and recreation, Schlatter has served as a visiting scholar at Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand, took students abroad to Argentina and Costa Rica, and co-authored a textbook and other publications.
In recent years, Schlatter has been recognized with several awards and honors. She was inducted as a fellow into the American Leisure Academy in 2009, earned the College of Applied Science and Technology Outstanding Service Award in 2014, took part in the ISU Leadership Initiative Program in 2013, among others. In addition to all these awards and accomplishments she recently finished her term of service as president of the Academy of Leisure Sciences.
Illinois State University is also home to five other members of the American Academy for Park and Recreation, including alumni Liz Kessler, Mike Clark, and Jim Busser, professor and graduate director Amy Hurd, and professor and dean emeritus J. Robert Rossman.
