VITA
Rená A. Koesler, Ph.D.
Department of Health,
Recreation and Kinesiology
Longwood University
Phone: 434/395-2550
Fax: 434/395-2380
Email: koeslerra@longwood.edu
Homepage:
http://www.longwood.edu/koeslerra
Date Appointed: August 1986
Present Rank: Professor
I.
Educational Data
Ph.D. Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Area of Study: Recreation and Leisure Behavior
Cognates: Sociology and Psychology
1994
M.S. Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Area of Study: Natural Resources
Development: Leisure Program
1985
B.S. Western Illinois University
Macomb, Illinois
Area of Study: Recreation and Park
Administration
1979
Title of Doctoral Dissertation:
Factors influencing leadership development in wilderness education.
Professional Licenses and Certifications
Scuba Diving Certification – Boynton Beach, FL.
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) re-certification in Spring, 2005
Leave No Trace (LNT) Master
Certified National Outdoor Leadership School Instructor
Certified Wilderness Education Association Instructor
Licensed Rafting Guide - Salmon River, Idaho
2003
2000-present
1999
1989
1981
1987, 1988
Academic Employment
Director - Outdoor Education Minor Program in the Department of Health,
Recreation and Kinesiology; Longwood University
1999present
Director - Therapeutic Recreation Program in the Department of Health,
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Longwood College
19972001
page two Rená Koesler/Vita
Professor – Department of Health, Recreation and Kinesiology
Longwood University.
2003
Associate Professor - Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation
and Dance; Longwood College
1996present
Assistant Professor - Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation Program; Longwood College
19941996
Graduate Assistant - Department of Park & Recreation Resources;
Michigan State University
19911993
Instructor - Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation Program; Longwood College
19861991
Related Experiences
Instructor - (Live, Learn & Teach Education Program)
University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho (Summer)
1987,
1988
Teacher - Outdoor Education Teacher for 5th and 6th grade children
Camp Kappe; Texas
1986
Program Advisor - Student Activities Outdoor Program,
Texas A&M University
1982,
1985
Assistant Director - Community and Youth Department
Rockford YMCA, Illinois
19791981
Honors
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers
2006
Princeps Award (Longwood College) –“To lead is to serve”
2002
CHI Commendation (Inspiration and confidence given to students through
adventure challenges) Longwood College
2000
Maude Glenn Raiford Award (Excellence in Teaching) Longwood College
1999
Outstanding Service Award - Wilderness Education Association (WEA)
1997
Outstanding Women Faculty (Longwood Panhellinic Council)
1996
page three Rená Koesler/Vita
Who's Who Among America’s Teachers
CHI Commendation (Recognizing outstanding contributions
and services to the college) Longwood College
1996,1998
1989
Memberships in Professional Organizations
Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
1993-present
National Outdoor Leadership School
1989-present
Virginia Recreation and Park Society
1986-1999
Wilderness Education Association
1978-present
Association for Experiential Education
1982, 1983
1987, 2003/4
II. Professional Service
Department
Outdoor Club Advisor
Curriculum Committee (member)
2000-present
1998-2000
General Education Committee (member)
1999
Promotion Committee (Chair)
1999
Tenure and Probationary Review Committee (member)
Promotion Committee (member)
2000, 2006
1998
Probationary Review Committee (Chair)
1996, 1997
2003
By-Laws Committee (Chair)
1996-1997
2003
By-Laws Committee (member)
2004-2006
Evaluation Committee (member)
1996, 1997
page four Rená Koesler/Vita
Courses Designed and Implemented
3 Credits- Environmental Education Resources
1999
3 Credits- Outdoor Education in the Schools
1999
3 Credits- Introduction to Outdoor Adventure Skills
1999
2 Credits- Ropes Course and Initiative Dynamics
1990
3 Credits- Leadership Development through Wilderness Pursuits
1987
Courses Taught:
General Leisure courses
Recreation 111 - Introduction to Leisure Services
Recreation 205 - Recreation Leadership and Activity
Recreation 305 – Concepts of Leisure
Recreation 410 - Supervision and Administration of Recreation
Recreation 437 - Leadership and Group Dynamics
Outdoor Education courses
Recreation 237 - Outdoor and Experiential Education Programming
Recreation 340 - Introduction to Outdoor Adventure Skills
Recreation 350 - Ropes Course and Initiative Dynamics
Recreation 375 - Leadership Development Through Wilderness Pursuits
Recreation 420 - Environmental Education Resources
Related courses
Health 260
- Advanced First Aid and Emergency Care
PHED 124
- Camping Skills
PHED 120
- Beginning Racquetball
Honors 481 - Surviving Hard Times
PHED 101
- Total Fitness – Fitness Outdoors
University
Faculty Status Committee – Chair
2006-07
Steering Committee for Ames Hull Springs Farm
2004-present
College Senate
1999-2001
page five Rená Koesler/Vita
Faculty Research and Development Committee Chair
1999-2000
Longwood Women Faculty Caucus - member
1993-1998
Longwood Women Faculty Caucus - secretary
1995-1997
Longwood Seminar Teacher/Advisor
1987-1991,1998
Faculty Representative, Leadership Conference Committee
1989
Faculty Coordinator, NOVA Program (Freshman Leaders)
1988-1989
State
Board Member - Virginia Council on Outdoor
Adventure Education
1989-1991
Conference Chair for Virginia Council on Outdoor
Adventure Education
1989-1990
Chair Elect for Board - Virginia Council on Outdoor
Adventure Education
1990-1991
Member - Virginia Recreation and Park Society
1986-present
National
Board Member - National Outdoor Leadership School Research
Advisory Board
1994-2001
President - Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
1995-1996
Member - Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America (ORCA)
1994-1999
Wilderness Instructor, National Outdoor Leadership School
1989-1995
Wilderness Instructor, Wilderness Education Association
1981-1995
Board Member - Association of Outdoor Recreation and
Education
1994-1997
page six Rená Koesler/Vita
Professional Conventions
State
Virginia Park and Recreation Society
1993-1999
Virginia Council on Outdoor Adventure Education
1986-1991
1993,1996
National
Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
2003-present
Sixth International Symposium on Society
and Resource Management
1996
Fifth International Symposium on Society
and Resource Management
1994
International Conference on Outdoor Recreation
and Education (ICORE)
1984,1988
1990,1994present
Northeast Recreation Research (NERR) Conference
1993
National Outdoor Leadership School Conference (NOLS)
1992
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
1980, 1987
1992, 1997
Wilderness Education Association Conference (WEA)
1989, 19951997, 2001
III. Scholarly Activities
Grant History
Faculty Travel Grant accepted ($2500.00). Reconnaissance Funds to take
Student groups to Chile in the future.
Granting Agency: Longwood University: Not completed until March, 07.
2006
page seven Rená Koesler/Vita
Faculty Travel Grant accepted ($3,000). These funds were used to explore
and investigate the potential for future student international travel to Kenya
Africa. Fifteen days were spent visiting orphanages, poor communities and
a home for disabled children, along with visiting cultural and environmental
sites. A 5 day climb up Mt. Kenya in Mt. Kenya National Park was included
in the fifteen day program.
**Granting Agency: Longwood University: Completed June, 2004.
2004
Faculty Travel Grant accepted ($1,670.00). These funds were used to
attend a 3 week Spanish Immersion program and to explore and investigate
the potential for taking a group of students and faculty to Peru in the future.
**Granting Agency: Longwood College: Completed July, 2001.
2001
Grant provided ($3,000) by NOLS to conduct research on the impacts of
Group Size on NOLS wilderness courses.
**Granting Agency: NOLS Completed February, 2001
2000
Faculty Travel Grant accepted ($1,550.00). These funds were used for
acquiring the following certifications: Sea Kayaking open water credential
and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) with WMA.
**Granting Agency: Longwood College. Completed 2000.
2000
Faculty Travel Grant accepted ($1,000). These funds were used to travel to
Colorado and participate in a Leave No Trace (LNT) Masters workshop
during the month of June. This workshop credential provides the opportunity
to teach a LNT workshop for the Environmental Education Resources course.
**Granting Agency: Longwood College. Completed 1999.
1999
Faculty Travel Grant accepted ($2,700). These funds were used
to travel to Nepal for the purposes of developing a graduate
course in Environmental Ethics. Sabbatical leave in Spring of 1998.
**Granting agency: Longwood College.
1997
A grant provided by the International Studies
Program at Longwood College ($1,500) to support travel
and research in Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya Africa.
**Granting Agency: Longwood College. Completed 1996.
1996
Summer Travel Faculty Grant accepted ($600)
These funds were used to support travel and research
in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania Africa in Summer of 1996.
**Granting agency: Longwood College. Completed 1996
1996
page eight Rená Koesler/Vita
Grant Proposal accepted ($3,000).
An Investigation of Effective Learning
Environments for Female Participant at The
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
**Granting agency: NOLS. Completed 1996.
1996
Grant Proposal accepted ($21,000).
Wilderness and Environmental Values of
Ethnic Minorities in the L.A. Basin
**Granting agency: U.S.D.A. Forest Service.
Completed - 1996
1995
Grant Proposal accepted ($40,000).
Causes and Correlates of Short and Long-Term
Leadership Involvement Among National Outdoor
Leadership School Participants (NOLS)
**Granting agency: NOLS. Completed - 1994
1992
Sabbatical Leave:
Spring Semester travel to Nepal to explore the environmental conditions
1998
in specific areas of the Himalayan mountains (Khumbu/Everest Region and
Annapurna region). Investigation of the environmental organizations that exist
and the actions that are taken to improve the environmental conditions
of the most popular trekking places in Nepal. The development of an interactive
Homepage was created of the regions visited. Also the development of an
Environmental Education Resources class was created.
Journal Reviewer
AEE International Conference Proposal Reviewer: 9 presentations for
Conference in Minnesota.
July, 2006
AEE Book Review: “Exploring Diversity Experientially – Without Shame, Blame or
Boredom.”
July, 2005
AEE Book Review: “3D Life Adventures: Curriculum Manual”
April, 2005
Journal of Environmental Management: “Degradation of human waste and
survival of fecal bacteria in Southwestern ecosystems.”
2001
Journal of Leisure Research: “An hermeneutic approach to studying the
nature of wilderness experiences.”
1997
page nine Rená Koesler/Vita
Symposium on Leisure research from the National Recreation
and Park Association. Reviewed 5 abstracts to be included in the
Research on Curriculum and Professional Preparation section of
the Abstract Proceedings.
1996
Longwood College Faculty Colloquium
Trekking in Nepal: What are the cultural and environmental impacts?
2000
Leadership for women in wilderness education.
1994
Presentations at National Conferences
**Published in Conference Proceedings
Credentialing the Outdoor Industry: Are Certifications the Answer?
Regional Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Conference.
Beckley, W.VA. March 30-April 1.
2006
Leadership Development: The continuing saga. Regional Association for
Experiential Education (AEE) conference. Baltimore, MD. February 7-10.
2005
Generational Leadership: What goes around comes around!. Regional
Association for Experiential Education (AEE) conference. PA. March 29-31.
2004
** “Leadership Development for Developed Leaders.” International
Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education. Charleston, S.C.
October 26-31.
2002/
2003
**"Stages to planning international outdoor trips." International
Conference of Outdoor Recreation and Education.
Jackson Hole, WY. November.
1999
"Wake up and do something SENSE-ible." The use of metaphors
as an experiential education method for working with a
variety of population groups. TRENDS Conference - Longwood
College.
1997
**"Ethnicity and urban populations: The impact of
values on wilderness." Sixth International Symposium
on Society and Resource Management Conference.
1996
page ten Rená Koesler/Vita
**"Urban population as an impact on wilderness: A study of
values in the Los Angeles Basin." Wilderness and Natural Areas
in Eastern North America Conference. Paper included in
conference proceedings. Gatlinburg, TN.
1996
**"Gender distinctions in leadership development."
The Wilderness Education Association Conference.
Paper included in conference proceedings. Ft. Collins, CO.
1995
**"Leadership development for women in wilderness education."
Fifth International Symposium on Society and Resource Management
Conference. Abstract Submitted in conference proceedings.
Ft. Collins, Colorado
1994
Results of doctoral research presented to the Board members,
administration and instructors of the National Outdoor Leadership
School (NOLS).
1994
**"Leadership Development for Women and Men in Wilderness
Education." International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and
Education. Colorado Springs, CO.
1994
**"Influences of Leadership Development Among Wilderness
Education Participants." Northeast Recreation Research
Conference. Paper published in conference proceedings.
1993
**"Opportunities and Liabilities of Female Instructors"
Panel Presenter at the National Outdoor Leadership School's
Annual Conference (Wyoming) Published in conference proceedings.
1992
"Causes and Correlates of Wilderness Leadership Among
Participants at NOLS." Research presented at the National
Outdoor Leadership School's Annual Conference.
1992
"Backcountry Medicine and Evacuations." Presenter at
Virginia Council on Outdoor Adventure Education.
1990
"Expedition Behavior: What Is Your Character Type?"
Presenter at Virginia Council on Outdoor Adventure Education.
1990
"Compare and Contrast National Outdoor Programs." Panel
Presenter at the Wilderness Education Association Conference.
1989
page eleven Rená Koesler/Vita
"Leadership Pursuits and The Wild Outdoors." Presenter at the
Virginia Recreation and Park Society. (VRPS).
1987
"Wilderness Leadership: The Outdoor Classroom." Presenter
at the Texas Regional Association of College Unions
International Conference.
1983
Invited Speaking Engagements
Sussex County Elementary School Teacher Retreat – Leadership and
Team Building (Collaboration with Dr. Chris Jones and Dr. Stephen
Keith)
Longwood University ITTIS Staff Retreat – Team Building
August, 2005
June, 2005
Princeps Keynote Speaker – Leadership Development Factors
February, 2003
Henrico County Parks and Recreation Lectures Series
*Trekking in Nepal: What are the cultural and environmental impacts?
January, 2001
Blue Ridge Mountain Sports - Monthly Travel Slide Presentations
*Trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp
*East Africa: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and Touring the Serengeti
*Climbing Mt. Rainier
November, 1999
March, 1997
October, 1996
Publications
Koesler, R. (2003). Leadership development for developed leaders. International
Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education conference proceedings.
Koesler, R. (Fall, 2002). Outdoor Education: Making the connection to physical
education and standards of learning. The Virginia Journal 24 (2).
Koesler, R. (2001). Group Size and the Wilderness Experience. NOLS research library,
research report.
Koesler, R. (1999). Mt. Everest base camp: What is all of the excitement about?
Longwood College Teaching Faculty Journal.
Koesler, R. (1998). Teaching women leadership: Research and teaching tips. In Gookin,
J., Green, R., & Doran, M. (Eds.), NOLS Leadership Education Toolbox.
page twelve Rená Koesler/Vita
Propst, D., &. Koesler, R. (1998). Bandura goes outdoors: Role of self-efficacy
in the outdoor leadership development process. Journal of Leisure Sciences 20 (4).
Koesler, R. & Tyson, B. (1996). Effective learning environments for women: An
analysis of gender distinctions at NOLS. NOLS research library; research report.
Koesler, R. (1995). Forging a new understanding of leadership
development in wilderness education. Parks and Recreation, 30 (7), 12-15.
Koesler, R. (1993). Wilderness Leadership: Forging a new understanding
of gender relationships." NOLS Newsletter.
Koesler, R. (1993). What’s come of all those surveys? NOLS Newsletter.
Workshop Attendance
Scuba Diving Certification: Boynton Beach, FL.
2003
Languages Abroad Spanish Immersion School: Cusco, Peru
2001
Wilderness First Responder (WFR): Asheville, NC./AORE/NC State
University.
2000, 2002,
2005
Open Water Introductory Sea Kayaking: Rockport, Maine
2000
Women's Rock and Leadership Seminar (NOLS): Lander, WY
1999
Leave No Trace Master's Workshop (LNT): Pitkin, CO
1999
Service to College Community/Local Community
Director of Talented and Gifted Program – Hire teachers, send out
forms, monitor schedule in the summer, and coordinate meetings
throughout the program period.
2003-present
Planning and Implementation of an Environmental Education program
For 10th graders at Fuqua School
2001, 2002
Board Member Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity
1999-2004
Page thirteen Rená Koesler/Vita
Coordinator and Leader of a 5-week adventure travel trip
to Nepal. The purpose of the trip was to learn about the cultural and
environmental impacts of the Khumbu Region of Sagarmatha
National Park and to trek to Mt. Everest base camp. The clientele
were students, faculty and staff from Longwood College.
1999
May/June
Coordinator and Leader of a 3-week adventure travel trip to
Kenya and Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and participate in a
Wildlife Safari in the Serengeti Plains. The clientele were students,
faculty and staff from Longwood College
1998
Dec./Jan.
Teacher with Talented and Gifted Program
Teaching outdoor education and adventure activities
for grade school children (4th-7th graders)
1991,1998
1999, 2002
Planning and Implementation of an Outdoor Education Program
For 5th graders at Prince Edward County Schools.
19941999
Planning and Implementation of an Experiential Education Program
for adolescents at New Dominion School
1997-present
Teaching and Leading rock climbing trips in the community
through Continuing Education.
1998,1995
1991,1990
Volunteer Prince Edward County Volunteer Rescue Squad
1986-1987
Development and Construction of Ropes/Initiative Course
Presently consisting of 10 low elements and 3 high elements
1987-present