American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration Announces the 2026 Class of New Fellows

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 30, 2026

Contact:

Lucia Gutiérrez
Lead Association Executive, AMC Source info@AAPRA.org
(206) 823-3164

Elizabeth S. Kessler
President, American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration Executive Director, McHenry County Conservation District, Woodstock, IL EKessler@MCCDistrict.org
(815) 260-7206

American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration Announces the 2026 Class of New Fellows

Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is proud to announce the 2026 Class of AAPRA Fellows.

Founded in 1980, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration advances excellence in the administration of parks, recreation and conservation through leadership, research, education, mentoring, and public service. The Academy promotes innovation, supports scholarly research, recognizes exemplary leadership and serves as a trusted voice on issues that shape the future of the profession.

“The Academy is honored to welcome the Class of 2026,” said Elizabeth S. Kessler (Executive Director, McHenry County Conservation District, Woodstock, IL), President of the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration. “This distinguished class represents exceptional leadership, innovation, and service from across the country. The collective experience, commitment to public service, and passion for improving communities through parks, recreation and conservation will strengthen the Academy in achieving its vision and help inspire the next generation of leaders.”

Following a comprehensive review process, 26 nominees were elected to the Class of 2026. The 2026 Class will be formally inducted during the Academy’s Annual Networking Reception and Awards Dinner on September 30, 2026, held in conjunction with the 2026 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“The 2026 class is one of the Academy’s largest and most diverse in its history, representing accomplished professionals from public agencies, higher education, nonprofit organizations and the private sector.”

Membership is determined through a rigorous nomination and peer-review process and is limited to 150 active members. Candidates must demonstrate a distinguished record of professional achievement, leadership, service to the profession, and meaningful contributions that have strengthened parks, recreation, conservation, tourism, sports management or related fields. The Academy recognizes Fellows in four categories:

Practitioner/Professional: Senior leaders with at least 15-years of executive level experience.

Educator: Distinguished university faculty or academic leaders with at least 15 years of service advancing parks and recreation education.

Advocate: Professionals from the private or nonprofit sectors whose leadership has significantly benefited the profession.

Urban Director: CEOs or Directors leading major public metropolitan park, recreation or conservation systems serving urban populations.

Induction to the Academy recognizes distinguished leaders whose careers have demonstrated exceptional service, visionary leadership, and lasting contributions in parks, recreation and conservation, and the outstanding service to the communities they serve. Academy Fellows represent the profession’s most accomplished practitioner, educators, urban directors and advocates who have significantly advanced the quality of life through parks, recreation and conservation in communities across the nation.

The Academy celebrates our 2026 Class of New Fellows.

Practitioner/Professional Fellows

• Melissa Battite, CPRP (Director of Recreation and Community Programs; Town of Lexington; Lexington, MA)
• Daniel Betts (Director of Recreation; Cincinnati Recreation Commission; Cincinnati, OH)
• Chase Ellis, CPRE (Director of Parks and Recreation; Town of Trophy Club; Trophy Club, TX)
• Douglas Guild, CPRE (Director of Parks and Recreation; City of North Las Vegas; North Las Vegas, NV)
• Debbie McLaughlin, CPRE (Parks and Recreation Director; City of Upper Arlington; Upper Arlington, OH)
• Shane Mize, CPRP (Parks and Recreation Director; City of Pflugerville; Pflugerville, TX)
• Benjamin Page (Director of Parks and Recreation; City of Des Moines; Des Moines, IA)
• Karen G. Palus, CPRP (President and Owner; KDP Consulting Services, LLC; Colorado Springs, CO)
• Scott Pratt, CPRP (Chief of Community and Employment Engagement; Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Division; Novi, MI)
• Chris Stice, CPRP (Director; Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department; Noblesville, IN)
• Joseph A. Stout (Executive Director/CEO; Westchester Parks Foundation; Mt. Kisco, NY)
• Keith Wallace, CPRP (Executive Director; Lincolnway Special Recreation Association; Frankfort, IL)

Educator Fellows

• Jason Bocarro, Ph.D. (Owens-Shelton Distinguished Professor of Leadership with a Global Perspective; North Carolina State University; Raleigh, NC)
• Brian Hill, Ph.D. (Professor, Experience Design and Management; Brigham Young University; Provo, UT)
• Lori Irwin, Ed.D., CPRP (Associate Professor and Program Director, Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services/Event and Recreation Management; Central Michigan University; Mount Pleasant, MI)
• Nathan A. Schaumleffel, Ph.D., CPRE, CFRE, ACNP, CFRM, CVA, CYSA (Associate Professor and Program Director, Public Lands, Recreation Administration and Nonprofit Leadership; Indiana State University; Terre Haute, IN)
• Keri Schwab, Ph.D. (Professor, Experience Industry Management Department; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA)
• Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, Ph.D. (Professor, Associate Director of the School of Natural Resources and Director of Undergraduate Studies; University of Missouri; Columbia, MO)

Advocate Fellows - Inaugural Class

• Neelay Bhatt (Founder and CEO; Next Practice Partners; Carmel, IN)
• Doug Grove (Managing Partner and Principal Landscape Architect; RHA Community Works; Riverside, CA)
• Pat Hoagland (Vice President/Principal; Brandstetter Carroll Inc.; Lexington, KY)
• Lori Hoffner (Speaker, Trainer and Consultant; Supporting CommUnity, Inc.; Littleton, CO)
• Teresa L. Penbrooke, Ph.D. (Director, Heron’s Haunt, LLC; Morehead City, NC)
• Paula Sliefert (Chief Executive Officer; Sports Field Management Association and Professional Football Field Managers Alliance; Lawrence, KS)

Urban Director Fellows

• Stephen Bentley, CPRP (Director, Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department; Raleigh, NC)
• Jane Rudolph (Director; Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation; Arlington, VA)

Additional information about the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is available at www.aapra.org.

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About the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) is an organization of practitioners, educators and advocates who are leaders in the park and recreation profession. The Academy is dedicated to advancing the field of parks and recreation by promoting research, sharing knowledge and best practices, and fostering the professional development of future leaders. Learn more at www.aapra.org.