Jennifer Hinton

Name:  Jennifer Hinton
Department: Health Sciences
Program: Recreational Therapy
Rank: Associate Professor
Title: Program Director and Clinical Coordinator
Work Phone: 828.227.2715
Work Email: jlhinton@wcu.edu
Office address: HHSB 442

Education:
Doctorate: Ph.D., Clemson University, Recreation Therapy in Parks Recreation and Tourism Management, 2000
Masters: M.S., Indiana University, Outdoor Therapeutic Recreation in Recreation and Park Administration, 1994
Bachelors: B.S., Kent State University, Therapeutic Recreation in Leisure Studies, 1991

Licenses & Specialty Credentialing: Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS); Licensed Recreational Therapist (LRT); Fellow, Distinguished in Recreational Therapy (FDRT)

Experience: Recreational therapist in behavioral healthcare and substance abuse, challenge course facilitator, faculty at several universities in recreational therapy

Area of Expertise: outdoor applications, curriculum and credentialing, use of animals in therapy

Primary Teaching Responsibilities:
RTH 200: Foundations in Recreational Therapy
RTH 304: Modality Skills- Adventure-Based Recreational Therapy
RTH 305: Modality Skills- Creative and Expressive Arts
RTH 395: Professional Preparation Seminar I
RTH 484: Recreational Therapy Clinical Internship

Scholarly Interests: curriculum and credentialing, use of animals in therapy, marketing the profession

Recent Publications and Presentations:

Publications:

• Hallyburton, A. and Hinton, J. (2017). Canine-assisted therapies in Autism: A systematic review of
  published studies relevant to recreational therapy.  Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 51 (2), 127-
  142.
•  Hinton, J.L. & Connolly, P. (2017).  Ensuring initial and continuing competence: Certification and
  licensure in therapeutic recreation. In Stumbo, N.J., Wolfe, B. and Pegg, S. (eds). Professional
  Issues in Therapeutic Recreation: On Competence and Outcomes, 3rd ed. Champaign, IL:
  Sagamore Publishing LLC.

Presentations:

• Burnham, C. & Hinton, J. (anticipated 2019, April).  The impact of CARTE on the CTRS
  practitioner.   Paper presented at the Southeast Recreational Therapy Symposium in Gatlinburg,
  Hinton, J., Hallyburton, A. & Hahn, S. (anticipated 2019, April). Emotional support animals: An
  overview of practical and legal issues for recreational therapists and other allied health
  professionals.  Paper presented at the Southeast Recreational Therapy Symposium in
  Gatlinburg, TN.
• Hinton, J. (2019, February). Students: Understand how to articulate your professional strengths
  and weaknesses as you navigate recreational therapy interviews.  Session presented at the
  North Carolina Recreational Therapy Association Student & Professional Issues Forum in
  Morganton, NC.
• Malphrus, A. & Hinton, J. (2018, October). Increasing involvement in RT service: Learning the
  motivations and constraints of volunteers. Paper presented at the North Carolina Recreational
  Therapy Association Annual Conference in Chapel Hill, NC.
• Wilson, S. & Hinton, J. (2018, March).    Refining your "elevator speech" on recreational therapy.
• Paper presented at the Southeast Recreational Therapy Symposium in Williamsburg, VA.

Service Interest:

Selected service in each category:

University: Coulter Faculty Commons Advisory Committee, Western Outdoor Council and Teams Course working group, Wesley Foundation faculty advisor

College: Ad Hoc Committee for Equity Training, Clinical Education Committee

School: Leadership Team, Collegial Review Committee

Professional: Committee for the Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education Board of Directors, past chair of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification Board of Directors

Public: HIGHTS Board of directors (serving youth in the region through use of adventure programming and service opportunities), disAbility Partners Consumer Rights Committee (promoting ethical treatment of adults with disabilities in the region)

Honors/Awards:
Recipient, Certificate of Recognition, Service Learning, WCU Spring 2018
Recipient, STAR Engagement Award, WCU Fall 2016
Recipient, Ray E. West Distinguished Member Award, NCRTA Fall 2013

Personal: I am a self-proclaimed tree-hugger and nature lover. I have an active family with a great husband, two teenagers, and two dogs- who all keep me very busy. I am fortunate to live in a place where I can hike in the mountains, feel a strong sense of community, and collaboratively contribute to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in my region.

Favorite Links:

American Therapeutic Recreation Association

North Carolina Recreational Therapy Association

National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification

North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy

Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education