Nine for Nine Candidate #7: Dr. Kent Blumenthal

Dr. Kent Blumenthal is the Executive Director of NIRSA. I had the opportunity to meet Kent at the 2008 summer board meetings. He discloses some great information about the future of NIRSA and our profession. Enjoy!

1. What about NIRSA attracted you to the Executive Director position?

I entered campus recreation in 1976 when a professor at the University of Maryland-College Park recommended that I apply to be director of the University of Maryland’s Summer Recreation Programs, my first full-time job. I hired a staff of 25 full and part-time employees, scheduled all recreation facilities, including the swimming pool at Cole Field House and sports fields, and offered a series of instructional classes, sports events, and tournaments. What’s more, the summer of 1976 was the U.S. bicentennial year, which made everything I produced for campus recreation, red, white and blue! It was a great experience, and I loved every minute of it! In ensuing years I received a research assistantship with the National Recreational and Park Association (NRPA) to work on community education projects through a Charles Stewart Mott Foundation grant; accepted full-time employment at NRPA; completed my M.A. in Therapeutic Recreation (1979) and Ph.D. in Recreation Administration (1990); and after 14 years and several senior staff positions at NRPA headquarters, I was named NIRSA’s Western Regional Director 1992 and served in that position for five years before excepting the Executive Director position at NRPA. The NRPA Western Region included a few NRPA members who were also members of NIRSA. When Will Holsberry, NIRSA’s former Executive Director, announced his retirement in 1991, they recommended that I apply for the position. Remembering how much I enjoyed my time in campus recreation, and knowing that I had acquired years of association management experience, I took their advice, and here I am!

2. Where do you see NIRSA in 10 years?

Within 10 years, I see NIRSA as recognized leader within Higher Education’s student affairs community, and as the model of Association success and achievement within the Council of Higher Education Management Associations [CHEMA] and more broadly, within the fields of recreation, sports, and leisure services. Specifically, I see the following achievable within 10 years:

· Creating a National Professional Registry for Collegiate Recreational Sports with continuing education as its core element that is a model credentialing program for other CHEMA organizations.

· Increasing broad-based research and data collection projects that expand the body of knowledge of collegiate recreational sports.

· Helping to integrate student learning and assessment into every collegiate recreational sports program.

· Providing information and training to collegiate recreational sports programs about sustainability and ‘going green’ practices that affords them the opportunity to be their campus lead in sustainability.

· Increasing understanding about the integration of health and wellness components into collegiate recreational sports operations and program offerings.

· Increasing NIRSA involvement in higher education governmental affairs issues, particularly related to student affairs.

· Facilitator of a collegiate recreational sports accreditation program.

· Providing expanded online education and training opportunities for members that offer continuing education credit, such as webinars, virtual seminars, screencasting, podcasts, audiocasts, on-demand video, and streaming video (real-time).

· Providing expanded Web 2.0 and social media outlets that increase and enhance member and Association networking opportunities.

· Continuing NIRSA leadership in the area of facilities design, construction, and management

· Consolidating student activities within the Association that leads to establishment of a centralized NIRSA ‘Student Section’ encompassing all programs and services that touch NIRSA student members, such as:

o Student Leadership Team;

o Lead Ons,

o Student Professional Development;

o Career Services;

o Member Services;

o etc.

· Expanding NIRSA’s membership reach beyond largely U.S. and Canadian institutions to include international colleges and universities.

· Providing a comprehensive array of NIRSA Services Corporation (NSC)-sponsored events and activities that offer quality experiences with broad-based member participation, and that support NCCS (National Campus Championship Series) programs and other Association activities.

· Having the NIRSA Foundation be in a very strong financial position that allows for enhanced and expanded Foundations services, including:

o more student scholarship programs

o more professional scholarship programs

o increase career opportunities support

o continuing support for the Recreational Sports Journal (RSJ)

o grants for NIRSA research, education, training, and publications

· Fully-funded financial reserves that affords the Association opportunities to invest in new initiatives and protects against the ebbs and flows of U.S. economic conditions.

· Providing adequate financial support for staffing that allows for sustained growth in member programs and services while adequately addressing personnel and resource capacity issues.

3. What obstacles do you see recreational sports professionals having to overcome in that same time period?

Our ‘New Economy,’ based on the current U.S. and global financial turmoil, is creating financial realities that may be with us for many years. Like never before, recreational sports professionals will find themselves competing with other campus auxiliary services for limited financial resources to support the academic mission of their respective institution. Every collegiate recreational sports program must clearly articulate its direct and indirect contributions to the overall Institution that it serves. This means providing data and information on activities that relate to recruitment and retention of college students, and how collegiate recreational sports programs enhance the quality of campus community life and bring out the best in students, faculty and staff. To be effective in this arena, data collection and data analysis must be considered an investment in the future of their campus programs and made systemic year-in and year-out.

4. NIRSA could be undergoing some major governance changes in the near future. How will these changes impact our association, but more importantly the student members?

I hope that governance changes now contemplated will provide a greater voice for students within the Association. The proposed ‘Assembly’ and ‘Representative Network’ may offer forums for student leaders to connect with a broad-based cross-section of NIRSA members. The proposed downsizing of the NIRSA board should allow it to be more nimble, and the proposed at-large nature of board positions ought to open up leadership opportunities to many talented and committed professionals who may not have been able to serve in leadership positions at a local or regional level.

5. Your position at NIRSA requires a lot of traveling, how do you make time for leisure? I wish that I had taken more time for leisure pursuits than I have since coming to NIRSA some 12 years ago. I want to be doing more fly fishing, camping, gardening, and reading more novels and tomes about U.S. history than I actually do. The nature of Association work is year-round. Coupled with required business travel, there never seems to be enough time left for leisure, and regrettably, as is common with many of my association executive director colleagues, I have accrued more personal leave time than I am ever able to use. I spend what discretionary time I do have with my family, especially with my daughter, Shana, who is now a senior in high school (yikes!). Shana and I took a SCUBA certification class together in 2007, and traveled together whenever time and her school schedule allows for it (in fact, you might meet Shana at the 2009 NIRSA Annual Conference in Charlotte, where she is volunteering to assist staff).

6. How did recreational sports impact your life as a college student?

When I was an undergraduate at the University of Maryland-College Park, I played intramural football on a dorm team (at the time it was ‘touch’ not ‘flag’ football) and participated in intramural wrestling tournaments. As a graduate student, I participated in intramural weightlifting tournaments (I won a silver medal while I was working on my M.A. degree...I still have the medal!). These experiences helped me to make friends, stay in good physical condition, and offered a much needed break from academic studies.

7. How has your position within NIRSA impacted your view on life?

My work at NIRSA has made me more open to new ideas and possibilities, and it has reinforced my belief that preparation has more to do with success than does luck. I have always been an optimist and have tried to be sensitive about needs of the human condition, and NIRSA has provided me with many opportunities to focus on these elements.

8. Do you have any mentors, if so how have they impacted you professionally?

Yes, I have had three mentors over the years. Two of my three mentors came from academia. One of the academicians taught me that I can learn and master anything that I put enough mind, time, and muscle into (especially regarding research and statistics!); the other academician taught me about the power of ideas and imagination, and the importance of ‘Dreaming Big.’ The third person I consider a mentor taught me that there is no substitute for hard work. He died in a plane crash in Chicago, Illinois on Memorial Day Weekend in 1979.

9. What advice do you wish you were given as a student?

Advice that I wish I had received as a student is the same that I want to share with today’s students: work hard and play hard; make your word your bond; always tell the truth; acknowledge kindnesses afforded to you; carry yourself in a dignified manner that is respectful of other people; speak well of everyone; get involved in service to others (this may bring the greatest joy); be childlike – not childish - as often as you can; and, find fun in everything you do!

Nine for Nine Candidate #6: Mick McComber

Nine for Nine was designed to help students get to know prominent NIRSA professionals through interviews about various campus recreation topics.

Mick is the Region V Vice President and the Director of Campus Recreation at University of Minnesota- Duluth.

1. Can you give a background story about how you got interested and involved in campus recreation?

Since a very young age I’ve been heavily involved in sport and outdoor activities. I was fortunate to have parents and grandparents who valued involvement in these areas and provided ample opportunities. Northern Minnesota is a great place to experience the different seasons via the outdoors, and that’s one of the main reasons I’ve stayed. Although I was heavily involved in campus recreation as an undergrad, I never really considered it as a career track until just after I had graduated.

2. You have two very important jobs. You serve as the Regional Vice President and as Director of Campus Recreation. How does your association position as vice president enrich your job as a director?

The opportunity to serve on the Board of Director’s affords me the chance to be among leaders in our field. Whether discussing board business or in informal conversations I am exposed to best thinking and best practices within our field. I’ve also had the chance to see the impact of our programs and services in places other than just on my own campus, which is reassuring and rewarding.

3. What is your favorite aspect about being a Regional Vice President? Least Favorite?

I feel tremendously fortunate to have served with outstanding people…just good people with big hearts and a vision for our profession. I enjoy discussions around strategy and direction and considering different opinions and philosophies. I also am thankful for the opportunity to contribute to a field that has been so important to my life and brings so much to the lives of others.

4. Many students I meet have never realized campus recreation can be a career pathway. In many aspects we are the best kept secret on campuses. How can we do a better job about spreading the word?

This comes down to how invested professional staff members are in the development of students, particularly student employees. I think a basic step is encouraging students to attend a state meeting or lead-on and to get exposed to the world of campus recreation outside their own backyard. From experience I think that the personal approach is the best route rather than some sort of “process”… taking a student aside and initiating a conversation about the field, the opportunities, the good and the bad that comes with the profession, etc.

5. On many occasions campus recreation is an unappreciated department on campuses. How can we distinguish ourselves from the notion that all we do is provide treadmills and gyms?

Collaboration and strategic partnering is a good start…working the student unions, under-represented student groups, housing, etc… I also think it is important for staff to effectively communicate all of the other things, like learning outcomes for instance, that are derived from participation. Becoming familiar with the latest research pertaining to our role in recruitment, retention, satisfaction with college experience, etc… It’s all about educating others.

6. It’s almost time for the annual conference. Do you have any advice for students applying for graduate assistant and full time positions?

First off, it isn’t do or die…don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Get some rest and try to enjoy other aspects of the conference. Keep your options open as to what you are interested in, for instance, don’t limit yourself by geography (it’s only a one or two year commitment). Network, network, network…don’t hesitate to ask those you know if they know folks from the institution you are applying at. Do some homework about the school and department.

7. Looking on bluefish.com you can see there are an abundance of GA positions open, which often leads to a large applicant pool for each position. How can a student stand out to the school of their choice?

The best way to answer that question is to tell you what we look for in an individual: can they communicate effectively, can they think critically (problem-solving), do they model our values (do they lead a healthy, active life), do they exude energy and a passion for student development, and would they be a good role model?

8. What kind of effect do you see NIRSA having on universities and other higher education associations in the future?

Certainly our work with other higher education associations and the adoption of CAS standards has resulted in an increased awareness of NIRSA and the recreation profession. I think we need to continue working on projects like Learning Reconsidered I & II and vigorously express the value and outcomes of our programs and services. NIRSA’s commitment to things like the National Research Institute helps towards that end. The challenge is to not get complacent and continue seizing opportunities as they arise.

9. A large part about being a student is learning to manage your time well. How do you create time for recreational activities while acting as the Regional VP and as a Director?

Good question. It isn’t just professional obligations that get in the way but kids and other commitments, too. I often find myself in conversation with other NIRSA members and we talk about the irony of our situations; that we preach the value of recreation to everyone but sometimes don’t make the time for ourselves to partake. What I’ve resorted to is actually scheduling it in, whether that’s committing to a golf league or basketball officiating. Sometimes, it just comes down to being selfish and setting other things aside.

Thank you Mick for your time, and commitment to NIRSA.