Dr. Rodgers is the Associate Dean for Teaching and Academic Affairs in the College of Education and Human Development and Director of the Center for Recreation and Tourism Research and Policy (CRTRP). She received her B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science and Recreation and Leisure Studies from Hood College; a M.A. in Recreation Planning and Methodology from The University of Maryland; and a Ph.D. in Recreation and Parks (Natural Resource Management) - specializing in Management Information Systems and Public Administration/Community Systems Planning - from The Pennsylvania State University.

Her areas of interest are in the human dimensions of natural resources; research methodology and evaluation; social psychology of leisure; demography and community/park planning. Dr. Rodgers has authored a body of research in refereed journals, book chapters, book-length monographs, and other publications; has secured well over one million dollars in extramural funding; and has delivered a broad range of scholarly presentations regionally, nationally, and internationally.

She has worked as an educator, consultant, research analyst, public administrator, and planner. Prior to employment in 1999 with Mason, Dr. Rodgers held positions as a Senior Planner/Research Associate with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and Assistant Professor in Recreation at The University of Maryland (where she currently holds Adjunct Graduate Faculty status). She has held leadership roles in numerous professional organizations and on journal editorial boards' currently serving as co-editor for the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, and on the Board of Directors of the National Recreation and Park Association (Society for Park and Recreation Educators) and the National Committee for the Peer Review of Scholarly Teaching.