Stephanie West

Stephanie West is a Professor at the Hart School within the College of Business at James Madison University (JMU). She previously held roles as Professor and Director of the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University from 2002 to 2020, and earlier served as Assistant Director in Recreational Sports at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on enhancing physical activity and sport participation among older adults, particularly those with arthritis, and explores socioecological factors influencing leisure behaviors. She is also interested in health equity, park usage, and community resource allocation for recreational services.

Dr. West earned her Ph.D. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences from Texas A&M University, a Master of Recreation Administration from Georgia Southern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Education (Recreation Administration) from Auburn University.

Her research interests include promoting sport participation in later life, analyzing facilitators and constraints to physical activity, and applying socioecological models to understand how social and environmental factors impact aging populations' health behaviors. She has conducted studies on rural and urban disparities in park use, the role of community programs in fostering physical activity, and qualitative investigations into aging women’s experiences in team sports.

Dr. West has received significant recognition, including the Academy of Leisure Sciences Fellow (2021), two Community Engagement Awards (2015), and the Campus Excellence in Teaching Award (2014). Her work emphasizes practical applications of research to improve health outcomes and recreational access for marginalized groups.

While no formal advisees are listed, her research has been supported by grants focusing on topics like geocaching as a physical activity tool and the effects of ankle instability on youth participation. She has also contributed to projects addressing health equity in rural communities and the psychological dimensions of aging in competitive sports.

Dr. West’s work often intersects with interdisciplinary teams, though specific laboratories or research groups are not explicitly mentioned in the provided texts.