Shelly Bates

Shelly Bates, Ph.D., is an Instructor in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Sport at the University of South Alabama. She holds a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation (2003) from the University of Southern Mississippi, an M.S. in Recreational Therapy (2018) from Clemson University, and is a Ph.D. Candidate in Instructional Design & Development at her current institution. Her research focuses on improving quality of life for older adults, creative expression's impact on mood, recreational therapy for veterans, and professional development in therapy.

She teaches courses such as Management of Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy Process, and Program Design. Bates has over 20 years of clinical experience as a recreational therapist, specializing in geriatric care and hospice. She actively collaborates with community organizations like the William F. Green State Veterans Home and serves as Vice-President of the Recreational Therapy Foundation. Her outreach includes disability advocacy and volunteering with the United States Sports Academy.