Brooke Burk

Brooke Burk is a Professor in the Recreation and Parks Leadership Studies department at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She holds a Ph.D. in Recreation, Sport and Tourism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2011), alongside an M.A. in Leisure Studies (University of Northern Iowa, 2008) and a B.A. in Psychology (University of Iowa, 2006).

• Education: Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Research Focus: Intersections of recreation, family dynamics, cyberbullying prevention, and educational pedagogy
• Contact: brooke.burk@mnsu.edu

Her research spans leisure theory, youth program development, and health equity. Key themes include:

• Using recreation as a tool for literacy education (Rec N’ Read program)
• Addressing cyberbullying in recreational settings
• Pandemic-era challenges in academic motherhood
• Interprofessional collaborations between recreation, education, and health sectors

Recent publications emphasize technology integration in recreation education (2024), paternal involvement in youth programs (2023), and health screening tools (2022). She also explores systemic barriers to rural recreation access (2015) and cultural perceptions of health among minoritized populations (2011-2015).

Burk actively engages in experiential learning pedagogy, particularly through interprofessional partnerships with speech-language pathologists and public health professionals. Her work bridges recreation theory with practical interventions for vulnerable populations, including individuals with developmental disabilities and literacy disorders.