Dr. Christopher Edginton is Secretary General of World Leisure, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with The United Nations. Also, he serves as Professor and Director of the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services at the University of Northern Iowa. He has authored over 200 articles and 26 books including Leisure and Life Satisfaction: Foundational Perspectives, Youth Work: Emerging Perspectives in Youth Development, Leadership for Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services, and Leisure Programming: A Service Centered and Benefits Approach.
Dr. Edginton is the Founder of Camp Adventure Youth Services: an award winning service learning program operating in over 20 countries, serving 750,000 children and youth on an annual basis. He has served as editor for and/or member of the editorial/policy making boards of the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Humanics: The Journal of Leadership for Youth and Human Services; Journal of Park and Recreation Administration; Recreation Canada and Leisure Today.
Dr. Edginton has received numerous awards including Distinguished Fellow Award, Society of Park and Educators (1989); J.B. Nash Scholar Award, American Association for Leisure and Recreation (1998); National Literary Award, National Recreation and Park Association (2000), Honor Award, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (2001), Biennial Distinguished Scholar Award, International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance (2002), R. Tait McKinzie Award, American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, (2003), and the Charles K. Brightbill Alumnus Award (2004). He is also a member the Academy of Leisure Sciences, American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (1993); and the American Leisure Academy (1997).