Positions

Research Areas research areas

Overview

  • I am an Assistant Professor in Recreation Management and Policy at the University of New Hampshire. Employing primarily mixed methodologies, my research examines community-based outdoor and adaptive sports recreational therapy programs for Veterans and Military Service Members with behavioral health disorders. My research can be categorized into three areas: 1) efficacy research; 2) effectiveness research; and 3) implementation research. Using efficacy research, I examine if the use of a particular modality has positive outcomes for Veterans and Military Services members with behavioral health disorders. Another area of my research focuses on the effectiveness of applying a specific model in community-based programs for Veterans with behavioral health disorders. I also examine barriers associated with the implementation of community-based outdoor and adaptive sport recreational therapy programs for Veterans and Military Service Members with behavioral health disorders.

    A second aspect of my career involves educating and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. I teach courses such as recreational therapy and behavioral health, recreational therapy leadership, planning, and facilitation, and implementing recreation services with a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion lens. I have developed these areas of expertise through years of professional practice as a recreational therapist and my research interest areas. I include applied, experiential, and critical thinking skills throughout all of my courses to develop high quality recreational therapist and recreation professionals.
  • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title
    2022 Community-Based Recreational Therapy for Veterans with Behavioral Health Disorders: Impacts on Quality of Life, Participation, and Happiness.Community Mental Health Journal.  58:1477-1486. 2022
    2020 The Transformative Nature of Fly-Fishing for Veterans and Military Personnel with Posttraumatic Stress DisorderTherapeutic Recreation Journal.  54:150-172. 2020
    2018 Preliminary long-term health outcomes associated with recreation-based health and wellness programs for injured service membersCogent Psychology.  5:1444330-1444330. 2018
    2017 Outcomes of a Therapeutic Fly-Fishing Program for Veterans with Combat-Related Disabilities: A Community-Based Rehabilitation Initiative.Community Mental Health Journal.  53:756-765. 2017
    2017 If you don't measure it, you won't improve it: The advancement of recreational therapy through collaborative researchAmerican Journal of Recreation Therapy.  16:7-7. 2017
    2016 Northeast Passage PATH (TM) Program A Strengths-Based and Recovery-Oriented Approach for Veterans Who Experience Mental Health DisordersTherapeutic Recreation Journal.  50:138-154. 2016
    2013 Participation in outdoor recreation program predicts improved psychosocial well-being among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: a pilot study.Military Medicine: international journal of AMSUS.  178:254-260. 2013
    Impacting mental health: Adaptive snowsports as a therapeutic approach for veterans with combat-related disabilities and their significant othersAmerican Journal of Recreation Therapy.  23:27-41.
    The PATH to active living: Promoting Access, Transition, and Health for rural veterans in the home/community environment.American Journal of Health Promotion

    Chapter

    Year Title
    2014 Military service members.  253-278. 2014
    Person-first philosophy in therapeutic recreation

    Conference Paper

    Year Title
    Community-based recreational therapy for Veterans with disabilities: Impacts on functioning and quality of life.
    Examining the Health Outcomes Associated with Participation in Veteran-Centered Therapeutic Recreation Services

    Teaching Activities

  • DEIJ for Recreation Services Taught course
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course
  • Therp Rec Mental Hlth Princple Taught course
  • DEIJ for Recreation Services Taught course 2024
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course 2024
  • Internship Taught course 2024
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2024
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2023
  • Therp Rec Mental Hlth Princple Taught course 2023
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2022 - 2023
  • Graduate Field Practicum Taught course 2022
  • Independent Study Taught course 2022
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2022
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course 2022
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2022
  • Graduate Field Practicum Taught course 2022
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2022
  • Therp Rec Mental Hlth Princple Taught course 2022
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2021 - 2022
  • Independent Study Taught course 2021
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2021
  • Teaching Practicum Taught course 2021
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course 2021
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2021
  • Independent Study Taught course 2021
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2021
  • Therp Rec Mental Hlth Princple Taught course 2021
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2020 - 2021
  • Concepts Recreation & Leisure Taught course 2020
  • Independent Study Taught course 2020
  • Independent Study Taught course 2020
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course 2020
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2020
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2020
  • Therp Rec Mental Hlth Princple Taught course 2020
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2019 - 2020
  • Independent Study Taught course 2019
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2019
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course 2019
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2019
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2019
  • Therp Rec Mental Hlth Princple Taught course 2019
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2018 - 2019
  • Independent Study Taught course 2018
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2018
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course 2018
  • Independent Study Taught course 2018
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2018
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2018
  • Therp Rec Mental Hlth Princple Taught course 2018
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2017 - 2018
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2017
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course 2017
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2017
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2017
  • Therp Rec Mental Hlth Princple Taught course 2017
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2016
  • Ther Comm Tech in TR Taught course 2016
  • Internship Taught course 2016
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2016
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2016
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2016
  • Internship Taught course 2015
  • Interventns&Documentatn in TR Taught course 2015
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2015
  • Internship Taught course 2015
  • Rec Mgt & Policy Practicum Taught course 2015
  • Rec Serv Indiv w/Disabilities Taught course 2015
  • Therap Rec Rehab Princpl & Int Taught course 2015
  • Internship Taught course 2014
  • Interventns&Documentatn in TR Taught course 2014
  • Education And Training

  • B.S. Therapeutic Recreation, Green Mountain College
  • M.S. Parks, Recreation and Leisure, Brigham Young University
  • Ph.D. Parks, Recreation and Leisure, Indiana University - Bloomington
  • Full Name

  • Jessie Bennett
  • Mailing Address

  • Recreation Management & Policy

    4 Library Way, Hewitt 191

    Durham

    NH

    03874