Rodgers, Ellen

Send email to Dr. Rodgers

Phone: (703) 993-2034

Dr. Rodgers is an associate professor and former associate dean for student and academic affairs in the College of Education and Human Development. Beyond her current position at Mason, she has served as co-acting dean, undergraduate/graduate program coordinator, Director of the Center for Recreation and Tourism Research and Policy, and Fellow for the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being Learning Community.  She received her bachelors degree with honors in mathematics and computer science and recreation and leisure studies from Hood College; a masters degree in recreation planning and research methodology from The University of Maryland; and a doctorate in recreation and parks (Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management - specializing in management information systems and public administration/community systems planning) from The Pennsylvania State University.

In her current role, Dr. Rodgers is charged with facilitating curriculum development and review; enrollment planning and management; integrity and regulatory compliance (including accreditation and licensure); academic policy development; oversight of student and academic affairs functions (e.g., student success and engagement initiatives; advising and retention; issue adjudication; crisis and threat management); leadership in external partnership and governmental affairs; and faculty/staff/student development.

Dr. Rodgers' scholarship focuses on research and evaluative methodologies; the antecedents to and outcomes of participation in leisure; application of social and environmental psychology to engagement; and the ways such research informs community and park planning/management.  She has authored a body of research in refereed journals, book chapters, book-length monographs, and other publications; has secured well over $2.5M in extramural funding; and has delivered a broad range of scholarly presentations regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Prior to her employment in 1999 with Mason, Dr. Rodgers held positions as a principal planner/research associate and Census Bureau liaison with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and as a program coordinator at The University of Maryland (where she was recognized with university Outstanding Scholar-Practitioner and Outstanding Teacher awards). She has held leadership roles in numerous professional organizations (e.g., Founding Officer of the National Environment and Recreation Research Association, Board of Directors of The Academy of Leisure Sciences, Research Committee Chair for the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration, Board of Directors of the Virginia Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators) and on journal editorial boards, currently serving as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. She has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumni from Hood College, and recipient of the  Outstanding Achievement Award at Mason. Dr. Rodgers is a Fellow in the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration and The Academy of Leisure Sciences.

• Research Methodologies and Evaluation
• Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
• Antecedents to and Outcomes of Participation in Leisure
• Application of social and environmental psychology to engagement
• Demography
• Community and Park Planning

• Sport and Recreation Studies
• Recreation Management
• Research Methodology
• Educational Psychology
• Tourism and Events Management
• Center for Sport Management
• COS Environmental Science and Public Policy
• CHSS Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
• School of Education
• School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management
• School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management
• The Center for the Study of Sport and Leisure in Society
• Center for Social Equity Through Science Education

• Seminar in Sport and Recreation Studies (SRST - 796)

• Internship in Education (EDCI 790)
• Scholarly Project in Educational Psychology (EDEP 796)
• Internship in Special Education (EDSE 790)
• Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (EDUC 897)
• Internship in Early Childhood Education (EDUT 790)
• Internship with Diverse Infants and Toddlers and Their Families (EDUT 791)
• Internship with Diverse Learners, K-3 (EDUT 792)
• Specialization Internship with Diverse Learners and Their Families (EDUT 793)
• Independent Study EFHP (EFHP 599)
• Research Methods for Applied Kinesiology (EFHP 620)
• Thesis (EFHP 799)
• Research Methods (PRLS 450)
• Special Topics (PRLS 598)
• Cultural and Environmental Interpretation (RMGT 362)
• Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Recreation Management Field Experience (RMGT 470)
• Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Recreation Management Field Experience (RMGT 570)
• Special Topics (RMGT 598)
• Sport Marketing and Sales (SPMT 412)
• Research Methods (SRST 450)
• Independent Study in Sport and Recreation Studies (SRST 599)
• Research Design and Statistical Reasoning (SRST 623)
• Master's Project/Internship (SRST 798)
• Master's Thesis (SRST 799)