James B. Wise, Professor of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services

Profile

Received a Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Utah.

Dr. Wise teaches in the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services at MSU, Mankato. His area of expertise is Therapeutic Recreation which involves the use of activities to improve people's health and ultimately their quality of life. Improved health increases the probability that people will experience recreation, leisure and well-being. Many students who graduate with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation work in adult day programs, nursing homes, assisted living centers and senior centers.

Dr. Wise was born and raised in Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University. After graduation he moved to Idaho and lived in Pocatello for nine years. While in Pocatello he worked for an organization that provided challenging outdoor recreation opportunities to people of all ages with disabilities. From Idaho he moved to Salt Lake City and received a Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 1999. His dissertation dealt with the generalization of self-efficacy from weight training exercises to activities of daily living among adults with spinal injuries. He, his wife and two children moved to Mankato and MSU in 2000.