USM’s 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 Southern Mississippi (USM) College of Nursing and Health Professions’ 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.

SMART CEU Hub 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’s and master’s degrees in recreation from Southern 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’s students, Chrysten Broome, a rising senior in the USM Honors College from Prentiss, Mississippi, nominated him for the award. In her recommendation, Broome wrote:

“Dr. 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 Southern 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.

“Dr. 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 “honored, and a bit surprised” to be recognized with the award, and especially grateful the recommendation came from one of the top students in the school’s program.

“As 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,” he continued.

Dr. Lachel Story, professor and dean of the USM College of Nursing and Health Professions, praised Dr. Green for “building a legacy of excellence in recreational therapy throughout his 46-year career as an RT and his 23 years at the University.”

“He no doubt has impacted numerous generations of therapists through his teaching and mentoring, who have then improved the health of countless people,” Dr. Story continued. “He will be deeply missed after his retirement, but I know his legacy and impact will remain.”