Rate My Professor Merry Armstrong

Merry Armstrong serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Middle Tennessee State University, within the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences. She contributes to the Leisure and Sport Management program by teaching courses such as LSTS 2000, LSTS 3000, and LSTS 3560, focusing on leisure studies and sport management principles relevant to health sciences.

Armstrong holds a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a Recreational Therapy concentration from Clemson University, awarded in 2021. Her graduate thesis, titled 'An Exploration of Outdoor Recreation Experiences Among Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Benefits, Constraints, and Facilitators,' utilized qualitative semi-structured interviews with seven adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities. The study identified key benefits including satisfaction, mental reprieve, empowerment, enlightenment, social connectedness, and thrill from participation. It also delineated intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural constraints alongside facilitators that influence engagement in outdoor recreation. This work was supervised by a committee from Clemson's Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management department, comprising Iryna Sharaievska, Brandi Crowe, and Ryan Gagnon.

Extending her thesis findings, Armstrong co-authored the article 'Experiences in outdoor recreation among individuals with developmental disabilities: Benefits, constraints, and facilitators,' published in the Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability (2023, Volume 48, Issue 1, pages 46-57). The paper, based on the same qualitative data, emphasizes practical implications for enhancing participation among this population.

A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), Armstrong previously served as an Adaptive Outdoor Recreation Instructor at the Adaptive Sports Center at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee, she entered the field through a therapeutic recreation internship, followed by roles as a whitewater paddle guide and in fitness. Her contributions at the ASC focus on empowering individuals with disabilities to acquire skills, foster confidence, and thrive in outdoor environments.

Armstrong's expertise in therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports informs her teaching and research, advancing inclusive practices in health science and leisure management.