Biography

Rodney B. Dieser, Ph.D., currently is an Associate Professor in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services (HPELS) at the University of Northern Iowa. Rod currently serves as the program coordinator for the Master's Degree in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development and teaches the doctoral level qualitative research class within the College of Education.

Rod holds a Bachelor's and Master's of Science degree from the University of Utah in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, with a graduate level minor in educational psychology (adolescent-based counseling). He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Alberta (Canada). His research and teaching interests include: (1) cross-cultural therapeutic recreation and leisure practice, (2) therapeutic recreation as an adjunctive therapy for people with mental illness and people with disabilities, (3) historical and philosophical foundations of leisure, youth, and non-profit human services, including Hull-House from 1889-1953, (4) representations of health in popular culture, and (5) hegemonic masculinity and youth development in leisure, sport, and physical activities.

Rod has co-authored two academic textbooks in Leisure Studies, has written over 60 academic articles, and made countless national and international research and professional presentations in both Canada and the United States. Although the bulk of Rod's academic writings are in the areas of leisure studies and therapeutic recreation (e.g., American Journal of Recreation Therapy , Annuals of Therapeutic Recreation , Journal of Leisure Research, Leisure Science, Leisure Studies, Leisure/Loisir, Therapeutic Recreation Journal ) his research has appeared in other academic fields, including: Counseling Psychology ( Transactional Analysis Journal ), Education ( Alberta Journal of Education Research, Journal of College Student Development), Human Services (e.g., Human Service Educator, Journal of Progressive Human Services ), and Physical Education (Journal of the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance ).

Rod has served as an associate editor for the Therapeutic Recreation Journal and as an editor for the academic newsletter the SPRE Professor and was awarded a Presidential Citation by the Society of Parks and Recreation Educators for his work as the SPRE Professor editor. In 2006 he received the Outstanding Professional Research Award by the National Therapeutic Recreation Society in the United States. He has also received outstanding research and writing awards by the Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association and the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association respectfully.

Dr. Dieser's Recent Publications:

Grybovych, O., & Dieser, R (2010). Happiness and leisure: An ethnodrama, Act I. Leisure/Loisir, 34(1), 27-50. Waldron, J. J., & Dieser, R. B. (2010). Perspectives of fitness and health in college men and women. Journal of College Student Development, 51(1), 65-78 Dieser, R. B., & Scholl, K. (2010). Inclusive recreation history, and legislation, In Human Kinetics (Ed.), Inclusive recreation: Programs and services for diverse populations (pp. 19-38). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Dieser, R. B. (2008). History of therapeutic recreation: In T. Robertson & T. Long (Eds.), Foundations of therapeutic recreation (pp. 13-30). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Dieser, R. B. (2008). Tales From Grades 1 Through 12: Understanding the Complex Web of Multiple Life Forces Located in Schools. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 54 (3), 293-307. Dieser, R. B. (2008). Review of the book Let them eat Prozac: The unhealthy relationshipbetween the pharmaceutical industry and depression . D. Healy, New York: New York University Press. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 19(2), 160-168.  Dieser, R. B. (2008). Review of the book Leisure theory: Principles and practice . C. Rojek,New York: Palgrave Macmillian. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 26(3), 152-158.