NJ/EPA-TRA ViRTual Fall Conference 2021

Learn more aboutBrent D. Wolfe Brent D. Wolfe

Brent D. Wolfe

PhD, CTRS/LRT, FDRT

University Of North Carolina, Greensboro

Brent D. Wolfe, PhD, CTRS/LRT, FDRT is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro and the Executive Director for the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. He has more than 20 years of experience in the RT profession as a practitioner and educator. Dr. Wolfe graduated with his undergraduate degree from Houghton College in New York and earned his Masters and PhD from the University of Georgia. As a practitioner, Dr. Wolfe’s background is adolescent psych and he worked in a locked, residential treatment center for two years. He served on the board of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) from 2006-2009 and then as President from 2009-2010. More recently he has served on the Board of Directors for the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) as a Member-at-Large (2014-2015) and the Treasurer (2015-2019). His research has been published in the Therapeutic Recreation Journal, Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, and the Journal of Experiential Education. Dr. Wolfe has also written book chapters for numerous Recreational Therapy and Leadership textbooks. His research interests have included team building, volunteering, and adults with developmental disabilities. Dr. Wolfe is currently engaging in research focused on the lived experiences of adults with developmental disabilities and giving them a voice to share their perspectives of the world around them. He has presented on a variety of topics related to leadership, disability, and recreational therapy at local, state, regional, national, and international conferences. Dr. Wolfe believes that the two most important keys to being a successful leader, student, therapist, and person are listening and empathy. He spends his free time with his wife Becky, their two daughters, Austyn Grace and Taylor Faith, their dogs Bella and Lobo, cats Leyla and Blue, and any other critters his daughters catch.

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PhD, CTRS/LRT, FDRT

University Of North Carolina, Greensboro

Learn more aboutDawn DeVries Dawn DeVries

Dawn DeVries

DHA, MPA, CTRS

Grand Valley State University

Dr. Dawn DeVries, DHA, MPA, CTRS is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Recreational Therapy program at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. Dawn is a New Jersey naïve and enjoys presenting to NJ/EPA. Her clinical experience with older adults and personal experience as the parent of a child with a disability gave her insights into recreational therapy practice and make her a sought after speaker on these topics.

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DHA, MPA, CTRS

Grand Valley State University

Learn more aboutChristine Rouse Christine Rouse

Christine Rouse

Executive Director, AWB

Acting Without Boundaries

Christine Rouse, created Acting Without Boundaries in 2004 because of her personal experiences growing up with Cerebral Palsy. Since 1991, Christine has been a source of inspiration and motivation for thousands of children through her disabled awareness educational workshop, Kids are Kids. Following her graduation from Saint Joseph’s University in 2002, Christine began to further develop her interest in theater and the performing arts. She has received extensive training at various acting programs across the country and is the recipient of a number of awards including the 1994 Presidential Award from the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. In March of 2012 Christine was featured on The Today Show’s “Everyone Has a Story” segment. In April of 2016, Christine was awarded the Ars Liberalis Award for Service by Villa Maria Academy High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Through AWB Christine is successfully paving the way to acceptance and inclusion for young people with disabilities by encouraging them to not let their disabilities stand in the way of achieving their goals and dreams.

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Executive Director, AWB

Acting Without Boundaries

Learn more aboutLacey Speert Lacey Speert

Lacey Speert

CTRS, CMDCP, CDP, CLL

Lacey Speert, CTRS, CMDCP, CDP, CLL has been a Recreational Therapist since 2004. She currently works with older adults. She has also worked with children, young adults, and Veterans. She is a CTRS, CMDCP (Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional), CDP (Certified Dementia Practitioner), Chair One Instructor, and CLL (Certified Laughter Leader). She is also the Member at Large for NJEPA/TRA and involved in ATRA projects and committees. In her leisure time, she enjoys listening to books, kayaking, cooking, outdoor exercise classes, improv classes on Zoom, and more. She chose the topic of legislation to emphasize how important it is to look at the whole big picture of the legislative landscape and address how Recreational Therapists can be an active part of the landscape.

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CTRS, CMDCP, CDP, CLL

Learn more aboutGenee Bower Genee Bower

Genee Bower

CTRS

Country Meadows

Genee Bower, CTRS, is a graduate of Temple University and has been a CTRS since 2013. She has worked in long term care, specifically with individuals living with dementia since her graduation. She is currently a recreation program director for 90 residents at Country Meadows in Central PA.

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CTRS

Country Meadows

Learn more aboutValerie Carter Valerie Carter

Valerie Carter

MS, CTRS

VA

Valerie Carter, MS, CTRS is the Lead Recreation Therapist at the VA Medical Center in Manchester, NH. She has been a beekeeper for 6 years, and has been involved in local and state bee clubs for the past 6 years. She has been facilitating the Hives for Heroes program at the VA for the past 3 years through both virtual and in person formats. Valerie has developed collaborations with Michigan State University/Heroes to Hives program. She has begun to examine the effects of beekeeping on veterans over the past year.

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MS, CTRS

VA

Learn more aboutKatherine Darcangelis Katherine Darcangelis

Katherine Darcangelis

MA, CNP, AAP-BC

Katherine Darcangelis, MA, CNP, AAP-BC, is an aging services professional, currently working as a Director of Volunteer Services for a 5-county wide hospice organization in Pennsylvania. She holds a Masters degree in Nonprofit Management, and has a strong background in therapeutic recreation and human development, to bring you a well-rounded and robust knowledge in aging service and management strategies. She is also the owner of What The Rec, a blog turned professional development resource company for professionals in aging services, mostly tailored to those in the recreation and related fields.

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MA, CNP, AAP-BC

Learn more aboutMary Catherine Lundquist Mary Catherine Lundquist

Mary Catherine Lundquist

Program Director

Ms. Lundquist has over 25 years of clinical and administrative experience in geriatrics specializing in dementia care, supporting family caregivers, training professionals and providing community health education. She is currently the Program Coordinator of the COPSA (Comprehensive Services on Aging) Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders at Rutgers Health, University Behavioral Health Care. Her expertise is in designing and implementing programs, which enhance the quality of life for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers. She is the author of Circle of Harmony: A New Paradigm of Care for Managing Behavioral Disturbances, Bridges: A Toolkit for Family Caregivers, and Foundations of Dementia Enabled Care.

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Program Director

Learn more aboutGloria Hoffner Gloria Hoffner

Gloria Hoffner

Creator and Owner, Science for Seniors

Science for Seniors

Gloria Hoffner is the creator and owner of Science for Seniors, a nationally trademarked company presented in over 30 states and Canada since 2007. She is also the author of the books, Science for Seniors and Going Places in Northern Europe Armchair Adventures and Activities, both published by Idyll Arbor Inc. and workbooks More Science for Seniors and Brain Boosting Games, in use in five countries. She earned a BA from Temple University and undergraduate credits in astrophysics from West Chester University, both located in Pennsylvania. She has Activity Director Certification by the National Certification Council of Activity Professionals; Activity Consultant Board Certified by the National Association of Activity Professionals and a Dementia Practitioner by the National Certification Council of Dementia Practitioners. Science for Seniors is the 2010 winner of the NCCAP first place Best Practice Award and the book Science for Seniors is the 2013 winner of the Mature Media Award of Merit. Gloria is a columnist for Activity Connection. She has an Science for Seniors accredited course at ActvityDirector.com Gloria presents live Science for Seniors programs to residents in independent, assisted living, personal care, memory care, senior centers and adult day centers via zoom. She can be reached at: Science4seniors@gmail.com and Scienceforseniors.net.

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Creator and Owner, Science for Seniors

Science for Seniors

Learn more aboutMelissa Mroz Melissa Mroz

Melissa Mroz

MS, CTRS, Integrative Therapist

Melissa Mroz, MS, CTRS, Integrative Therapist, is a trainer and therapist who specializes in team and leadership development, neural health and rehabilitation. Enduring a traumatic brain injury contributes to her expertise and ability to coach people to optimize their mind body connection and resilience against adversity. She works with professional athletes, individuals who are differently-abled and everyone in between. Melissa owns and operates 360 Agility, offering the complete mind health program for individuals and teams. Melissa is a yoga therapist, recreation therapist and personal trainer. She earned her MS at Maryland University of Integrative Health and her BS at Temple University. She is also a 500 E-RYT and reiki master.

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MS, CTRS, Integrative Therapist

Learn more aboutBrianne Alne Brianne Alne

Brianne Alne

MS, CTRS

NJ/EPA-TRA

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MS, CTRS

NJ/EPA-TRA