Terry Long Author

Terry Long, PhD, is a professor and the director of the School of Health Science and Wellness at Northwest Missouri State University, where he has worked since 2000. He is regarded nationally as one of the leading scholars in the field of therapeutic recreation, as evidenced by his teaching, research, applied experience, and service to the field.

Long has been on the editorial board of Therapeutic Recreation Journal for more than 10 years and served as editor from 2008 to 2011. He was an active member of the Northwest Missouri State faculty senate, serving his second term from 2012 to 2014, and was the faculty senate president for the 2014-2015 academic year. In addition to therapeutic recreation, Long’s professional interests also include adventure-based therapy, inclusion, disability rights, and mental health. His interest in independent living has enabled him to be instrumental in fostering a partnership between Northwest Missouri State and Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living (MERIL).

Terry Robertson, PhD, is a professor and associate dean in the College of Health and Human Services at California State University at Long Beach. Robertson was previously a clinical associate professor at the University of Utah; a professor and chair of the department of health, physical education, recreation, and dance at Northwest Missouri State University; and a research fellow at the University of Queensland. While at Northwest Missouri State, Robertson helped create a partnership with Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living (MERIL), for which he served on the board from 1994 to 2008, including six years as the chair. The Terry Robertson Community Partner Award was created in 2010 in honor of Robertson’s service to MERIL.

In addition to his work on independent living, Robertson has had a considerable impact on the field of therapeutic recreation, working as an educator, practitioner, and consultant for more than 40 years. He is a past president of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society, the Missouri Therapeutic Recreation Society, and the Nevada Therapeutic Recreation Society. He also served on the Utah Therapeutic Recreation Licensure for six years and was the director of continuing education for the Midwest Symposium on Therapeutic Recreation for more than 20 years.