Meet the Scholars

PlayCore advances research from leading scholars and experts in partner universities, research centers, and partnerships. These members of our Research Institute have centuries of combined experience in what makes play and recreation equitable, engaging, and educational and they’ve worked with us to translate research into best practice design guides, advocacy tools, and curricula across a variety of disciplines.

Learn more about them below, or refine your search by our seven indicators.

Our Scholar Network - Grid - Digital Version (1)
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Nisha D. Botchwey, PhD, MCRP, MPH

University of Minnesota Dean; Hubert H. Humphry School of Public Affairs
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Eadric bressel

Eadric Bressel, PhD

Utah State University Professor; Department of Kinesiology and Health Science
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Dr

Stuart Brown, MD

Founder, National Institute for Play
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Timothy A. Brusseau, Ph.D.

University of Utah Professor; Department of Health & Kinesiology
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Kathleen G. Burriss, EdD

Middle Tennessee State University Professor Emeritus; Department of Elementary and Special Education
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Paul Chantler, PhD

West Virginia University Professor; Department of Human Performance - Exercise Physiology
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Keith Christensen, PhD

Utah State University Professor; Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning
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Terry conway

Terry Conway, PhD

University of California San Diego Research Investigator; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health
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Nilda cosco

Nilda Cosco, PhD

North Carolina State University Research Professor and Director of Programs; Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning and Nature Learning Institute
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Brian Dauenhauer, Ph.D.

University of Northern Colorado Professor; Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Dietetics
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Heather Erwin, PhD

University of Kentucky Professor; Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion
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Myron Floyd, PhD

NC State University Dean of the College of Natural Resources
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Aaron Hipp, PhD

North Carolina State University Professor;  Department of Parks,Recreation, and Tourism Management
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Melissa Hughes, PhD

President and Founder, The Andrick Group
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Pamela kulinna

Pamela Kulinna, PhD

Arizona State University Professor; Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
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Tin-Man Lau

Auburn University Professor; School of Industrial and Graphic Design
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Gary liguori

Gary Liguori, PhD, FACSM

Penn State Abingdon Chancellor and Professor; Department of Kinesiology
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Marybeth lima

Marybeth Lima, PhD

Louisiana State University Chair; Department of Biology and Agricultural Engineering
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Thom mckenzie

Thom McKenzie, PhD

San Diego State University Emeritus Professor of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences
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Muntazar monsur

Muntazar Monsur, PhD

Texas Tech University Assistant Professor Department of Landscape Architecture,
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Robin Moore, Dipl Arch, MCP, ASLA

North Carolina State University Professor Emeritus; College of Design
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Elizabeth “Betsy” Nagle, PhD, FACSM

University of Pittsburgh Associate Professor; Department of Health and Human Development
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Jacquelyn Ann Nagle, PhD

John Carroll University Associate Professor; Department of Exercise Science and Sports Leadership
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M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, PhD, MCHES, FAAHB

Baylor University Professor; Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
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Gil Peñalosa, PhD

Founder & Chair, 8 80 Cities; Chair, World Urban Parks
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Keshia Pollack Porter, PhD, MPH

Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Centennial Chair and Professor; Department of Health Policy and Management
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Allison Poulos, PhD

Arizona State University Assistant Professor; College of Health Solutions
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Randy rosenberger

Randall S. Rosenberger, PhD

Oregon State University Professor; Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society
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Jim Sallis, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California San Diego and Professorial Fellow at Australian Catholic University, Melbourne
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Dr michael suk

Michael Suk, MD, JD, MPH, FACS

Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery, Geisinger Health System Danville, PA
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John Sutterby, PhD

University of Texas San Antonio Associate Professor; Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching
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Hirofumi tanaka

Hirofumi Tanaka, PhD

University of Texas at Austin Professor; Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
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Hannah thompson

Hannah R. Thompson, PhD, MPH

University of California - Berkeley Assistant Research Professor; Community Health Sciences Division
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Collin A. Webster, PhD

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Associate Professor; Department of Kinesiology
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Joy Kuebler, PLA, FASLA

Founder; PLAYCE Studio
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Russ carson

Russell Carson, PhD

Consultant
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Special thanks to our Scholar Alumni. We are grateful for their contributions to building healthy communities.

Bruce Becker, MD  |  Dennis Dolny, PhD  |  Joe Frost, PhD  |  Tom Lachocki, PhD