Recreation and Leisure Studies
MASTERS STUDENTS
Lauren Boyce
I’m a 25 year old Aquarius, a native of Cleveland, Ohio and a die hard fan of the Cavaliers, Browns and Ohio State. I am a graduate of Winston-Salem State University; where I received my B.S. in sport management. I have worked in sports information, football operations, event management and I even have some coaching experience. I am a proud member of the infamous Unified Core teaching team. I am a proud aunt, a thankful sister, a loyal friend and a child of God. In my spare time I avoid doing homework at all cost, watching sports, spending time with friends/family and working out. I plan to pursue a career with the U.S. Military in the MWR Department or I will return to collegiate athletics.
Stephanie Belcher
I am from Fayetteville, Ga. I graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in sociology. After graduation I took a position with the Clarke County Leisure Services Department as a Recreation Assistant. My work here combined my time as a student worker for UGA’s rec sports department helped me decide to return to school to work towards a Masters in recreation. Eventually I would like to work for a county or collegiate rec facility with emphasis in event management. In my spare time I enjoy music, reading, and staying active.
Jason Brewer
I am originally from the gulf coast town of Niceville, FL, and I am a graduate of the University of Florida where I majored in History. I worked with recreational sports at UF and I want to continue working in the field at a college or parks and recreation department. I believe sport has the power to bring people together and I want to be a part of that. In my spare time I enjoy playing soccer, softball, golf, and racquetball. I also enjoy officiating several sports. On weekends I can usually be found with friends at a local Irish pub. I am looking forward to exploring all that Athens has to offer.
Josh Cagliani
I graduated from UGA in May 2009 with an ABJ in Journalism. I have a love for all sports and working with children with special needs. I frequently volunteer at a camp in Georgia which serves children suffering from Type 1 diabetes. After living 21 of my 23 years with Type 1 diabetes, I want to spend the rest of my life supporting and working with children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I am working towards my masters in Recreation and Leisure Studies and plan to work as director in a recreational facility that serves children with special needs.
Cory Cason
I received my undergraduate degree here at UGA from the Department of Education. My major was Sports Studies. I worked with the Men’s Basketball team here at UGA since my freshman year and now I am taking over as their Graduate Assistant. I graduated high school on 2003 from Pike County High (home of the Pirates). I am a huge sports fan. The Bulldogs are my top team of course, but I am also a Hawks, Braves, and sadly a Falcons fan. I also enjoy watching movies and hanging out with my wife, Deven, in my spare time. I hope to obtain my graduate degree by May of 2010.
Karley Counts
I was born and raised in Clearwater, Florida; not too far from beaches. I received a bachelor of health science and a minor of family, youth, and community sciences from the University of Florida in 2008. During my time spent at the University, I began working with the Department of Recreational Sports to help me meet new people, earn some extra money, and find a different way to spend my time. After a few weeks of officiating basketball and meeting some of the best people I in the world, I began to find that this side job could potentially lead to a career. A few years later, here I am at the University of Georgia getting ready to pursue a career in Campus recreation.
Ray Fulcher
I am from Harlem, Georgia (Outside of Augusta) and am 23 years old. I graduated from UGA in May of 2008 with a degree in Social Science Education. I love being at the University and am very excited to be continuing my education in the field of Recreation and Leisure studies. I am currently a Graduate Assistant with the Georgia Football team where I assist in team practices and games and also work with a group of 12 other undergraduate students to manage the team’s uniforms and various types of equipment. Though I have many interests in life, I have true passion for three main things. They are music (I play the guitar), sports, and wildlife/outdoors. While in Recreation and Leisure studies, I hope to focus on one or more of these things and find different ways to incorporate these interests into my eventual career. Ultimately, I am excited about to learn what Recreation and Leisure Studies holds in store for my future.
Sara Kate Greene
I was born and raised in a small town outside of Atlanta known as Lilburn, Georgia. After graduating from the University of Georgia in May 2008 with a degree in Sports Studies, I decided to further my education and pursue a masters degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. I am really excited about this opportunity and everything that the program here at UGA has to offer. Outside of pursuing my masters degree, I am a graduate assistant for the Women’s Basketball at UGA. I have always had a passion for basketball, and now being able to help out with the team here is like a dream come true. After playing for the team here, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of role models to do my assistantship with.
Brian Kumm
I am originally from North Carolina, but grew up in the Atlanta area. In 1999 I received my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of West Georgia in Recreation and Parks Management. Since that I time I have been employed in various professional level positions in a public recreation setting. It is thrilling to start this new chapter in my life as a graduate student. I cannot wait to dig into my studies. A few areas I am especially excited to learn more about are research methods and theory. In my free time, I enjoy travelling and writing and performing original music.
Sarah Litowich
I graduated from UGA in 2007 with a degree in Music. Through my summer and student jobs I discovered my interest in recreation. I love my job in the aquatics department at Ramsey. I began as a lifeguard and progressed to manager, safety instructor, senior manager, and am the graduate assistant for aquatics. I love Athens. I’ve lived in the Athens area since I was in the 7th grade and I never want to leave. I enjoy making new friends and spending time with them. Other than the pool... I enjoy music, movies, tennis, smoothies, and my old school Nintendo.
Thomas Leonard
I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and received a BS in Recreation from Southern Illinois University in December 2007. Having spent four years in the United States Marine Corps, I am very passionate about issues concerning the military and my fellow veterans. My professional interests include working with at–risk youth, individuals with disabilities and non-profit organizations. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and writing, going to see live music, riding my bike, rooting fanatically for the Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox, and hanging out with friends, family and my three year old dog, Kangaroo.
Jake Martin
I am a Georgia native and I earned my undergraduate degree from Valdosta State University. Since coming to Athens, I have worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Kinesiology Department, and I most recently served as Director of Sandy Creek Day Camp. I enjoy paddling, hiking, playing music, and much more, and I hope to pursue a career in the outdoors, ideally in the field of environmental education. It’s great to be part of the Recreation and Leisure Studies program and I look forward to my last year at UGA.
Heidi Potratz
I am originally from Cincinnati, OH. I graduated with my BBA in Marketing from UGA in May ’08. I have been involved in recreation for a number of years as a pool manager for Cincinnati Pool Management, camp counselor, and former member and president of the UGA Club Water Polo team. With my degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies, I hope to manage a YMCA, work in campus recreation, or do programming for a non–profit like the Boys and Girls Club. In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with friends, traveling abroad, and spending time on Lake Hartwell.
Rose Tahash
I am originally from Michigan but have lived in Athens for the past ten years. I graduated with a B.A. in English from UGA and worked professionally here as well before returning academically. I am pursuing study on how childhood nature experiences contribute to choosing careers in conservation/preservation. My ultimate career goals are to work in a park, with an environmental education organization and as a college professor. I love outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and swimming. I recently traveled abroad to the UK and loved everything about it, especially their sustainability initiatives. My husband, Adrian, and I live with our 3 cats and puppy in central Athens.
Jim Tocci
I’m from Washington, Pennsylvania, which is only a short drive from Pittsburgh. I graduated in 2008 from Penn State University with a degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. Here at UGA, I’m working as the graduate assistant for Strength & Conditioning in Recreational Sports. In the future, I would love to continue to work in the field of fitness, especially at the university level. I have competed in numerous drug–tested bodybuilding shows and have won my professional status. In my free time, I enjoy weight lifting, playing almost any sport, and relaxing with a good book or movie.
Jenna Ward
I am from Germantown, Maryland and received my B.S. in Athletic Training from Salisbury University. I moved to Georgia in 2007 and spent the past two years working in the Sports Medicine department at Georgia Tech. I love NCAA sports, but I believe campus recreation is where I belong. The enrichment of lives through recreation and leisure is remarkable and I’m excited to further my education in the field. I enjoy playing tennis and disc golf as well as camping and spending time on the water. I’m looking forward to my time at UGA as part of the RLST family!
John Wickham
That’s me, at the crosstrees. I’m a jack-tar, a climber, and a backwoodsman. I’m also a writer, a reader, an observer, an epicurean, and an enormous nerd. I’m from New Hampshire originally (and at heart), but I’ve lived in Athens for most of the last five years. I’m back at UGA to see if there’s a meaningful career to be drawn out of the eclectic skill-set I’ve accumulated by my wandering life. I try to live simply and deliberately. I believe in honesty, responsibility, and self-reliance. I’m thankful every day for the experiences and friendships that make up my life.
DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Gail Taylor Baldwin
As doctoral student my areas of research are: 1) Persons of all ages, ethnicities, and abilities: Mental and physical health, social support and motivation, living situations, and barriers to life quality. 2) Leisure as coping activity during and following stressful and traumatic experience. 3) Universal design: Housing and interior design for all persons, with particular consideration for children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. 4) Qualitative inquiry focusing on under-served populations, and 5) Teaching effectiveness. Exercise, watercolor painting and coffee drinking are some of my leisure activity favorites.
Rob Dussler
I am from Houston, Texas and have lived in Georgia for the past 10 years. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from St. Edward’s University located in Austin, Texas, in 1991. I moved to Georgia to continue my education and fell in love with the mountains and streams of the Southeastern United States. I proceeded to teach high school English for 4 years, including a year at an Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound School in Atlanta. In this process I combined his love for teaching, youth and the out of doors. I earned my Masters degree in Outdoor Education Administration from Georgia College and State University in May of 2002. I currently serve as the Director of Outdoor Education at Young Harris College. I am now a second year PhD student and my research interests include the decision making processes of outdoor leaders, intuition, tacit knowing and outdoor leadership, self efficacy motivations and expectations. My passions include whitewater kayaking, fly- fishing, teaching, coffee, and being with my family and friends.
Nic Holt
I am a native of Athens, Georgia. I hold degrees in Classical Culture and in Instructional Technology from the University of Georgia. For the past six years, I have worked for the College of Education in the Learning and Performance Support Laboratory as the technical manger. Prior to taking that position, I produced the International Kudzu Film Festival from 1998 through 2002. My current research interests are centered on cyber-culture, gaming, and other informal learning environments.
Amanda Jarriel
Currently I am a faculty member and the Clinical Coordinator for the Athletic Training Education Program in the Department of Kinesiology at Georgia College and State University. This upcoming year will be my 4th year teaching at GCSU. I completed a B.S. in Athletic Training and a M.Ed. in Health Promotion from GCSU as well. I am a certified Athletic Trainer and a Certified Health Education Specialist. My research interests include body image concerns within the recreation and athletic fields, fitness and leisure, and clinical education. I hope to work diligently towards the completion of my dissertation this year. On a lighter note, in my free time I love to cook, garden, spend time with my husband, and play with my labs Stone and Jade.
Brittany Linde
I am a first-year PhD student in RLST. I started my college career at AUM, where I played very competitive college soccer. I transferred and obtained my B.A. in Psychology from GSU in 2007. I stayed at State for my M.S. in Educational Psychology. I have a fantastically intelligent dachshund named Maslow and a wonderful family who I am very close to. I have starred in two national commercials. I enjoy singing, painting, reading, playing soccer, and being outside!!!! I hope to become a professor at the University of Georgia.
Joseph Pate
I am a second year doctoral student who has returned home to Georgia to pursue my degree. I am married to my wonderful wife Jenny, and we have two human children – Abby and Wes – and one canine child – Cloe. We are excited to be a part of this community. I enjoy hiking, tree climbing, wood working, turning wood, gardening and reading. Scholarly, I am exploring ideas around music, myths, metaphors, symbols and making meaning out of our collective journeys. My previous educational experiences resulted in degrees within the field of Psychology, Philosophy, and Outdoor Education Administration.
Laurel Richmond
My interest in recreation and leisure has grown over the years as I continue my education. I hold a degree in Parks and Recreation Management from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in Recreation Administration from California State University, Long Beach. I have worked in the field of aquatics for many years and still enjoy all forms of water sports. My research interests involve exploring the influence of power structures on marginalized groups and how leisure operates in the lives of women on welfare. I also enjoy reading, being outdoors, and learning how to garden!
Toby Tobias
I have a B.S. in Recreation and Tourism Management and MBA from Arizona State University. While at ASU, I worked for the Intramural Department, the Athletic Department and the Alumni Association. My wife Tanya and I live in Atlanta with our dog (Lucky), where I recently trained employees in the banking industry. I am a college football official for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; my passion. If you want to know more, block out a couple of hours as it’s my favorite topic. Tanya and I love to travel domestically and internationally, although we do prefer adding stamps to our passports.
Christina Yother
I am a freelance writer and mother of three amazing kids all ages five and under. I am lucky enough to be married to the last perfect man on Earth, or at least the man that is perfect for me. I spend my time reading, cooking, blogging, and attempting to keep control over the chaos of life with three children. Though my background is in English Education, I hope to focus my doctoral studies on women and the art of blogging. I live with my family in a small Georgia town known for its vast array of scarecrows, and though I was not born in the South, I consider myself more than just a transplant.
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