Jennnifer
S. Livengood, Ph.D., MSW Assistant
Professor
Recreation and Sport Management Department
William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration
4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 453035
Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-3035
Educational Background
Ph.D., 2007, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign Dissertation Title: The role of
leisure in the personal spirituality and religious practices of New
Paradigm Christians
Masters in Social Work, 2001, School
of Social Work University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, 2000,
Department of Psychology Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale
Research
and Professional Interests My research interests focus on non-profit organizations,
specifically religious organizations and the way in which they provide
leisure services to their members and to the general community. I am
also interested in the interpretations of leisure and recreational
events by the church attendees and whether leisure within the religious
context and space is the primary place for recreation for those
individuals. Moreover, my research focuses on the social psychological
aspects of religious experiences. Specifically, I focus on personal
spirituality and leisure choices of individuals affiliated with a
particular religion, and the social and emotional ties people maintain
with fellow congregants. Professionally, I have experience as a leisure
planner and programmer for culturally and religiously diverse
populations including the University of Illinois Family and Graduate
Housing and the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation. My professional
interests have also led me to participate as a crisis line training
facilitator and volunteer.
Selected
Conference Presentations
Livengood, J.S. & Stahura, K. (October 2008). Leisure in the lives
and practices of Catholic Christians. Paper to be presented at the 2008
World Leisure Congress, Quebec City, Canada.
Livengood, J.S. & Place, G. (October 2008). Sport and recreation
competitions within the Protestant Church. Paper to be presented at the
2008 World Leisure Congress, Quebec City, Canada.
Place, G. & Livengood, J.S. (June 2008). Integrating spirituality
into leisure programming: A synthesis of scholarship and history. Paper
to be presented at the 2008 Christian Society for Kinesiology and
Leisure Studies Summer Conference, Seattle, WA.
Livengood, J.S., Livengood, J.A., & Stahura, K.S. (January 2008). I
believe in the Church of baseball: An analysis of sport and religion in
media. Paper to be presented at the Far West
Popular and American Culture Association, Las Vegas, NV.
Stahura, K, Livengood, J.S., & Livengood, J.A. (January 2008). The
influence of professional athletes on the behavior of young athletes:
The introdution of aggression. Paper to be presented at the Far West
Popular and American Culture Association, Las Vegas, NV.
Livengood, J. S. & Place G. (2007). Recreation services
in a religiously diverse world. Educational session presented at
the 2007 National Recreation and Parks Association Congress and
Exposition, Indianapolis, IN.
Livengood, J. S. & Place, G. (2007). Christian and Islamic
Conceptualizations of Leisure: A Comparison of Scripture. Paper
presented at the 2007 Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure
Studies Summer Conference, Deerfield, IL.
Livengood, J. S. (2006). Perceptions of leisure constraints by members
of New Paradigm Churches. Paper presented at the 2006 NRPA Leisure
Research Symposium in Seattle, WA.
Livengood, J. S. (2006). Spirituality and Leisure Among New Paradigm
Christians: Biblical Connections. Paper presented at the Christian
Society For Kinesiology and Leisure Studies Summer Conference, Wenham,
MA.
Livengood, J. S. (2006). Religion and leisure in the New Paradigm
Church. Paper presented at the 102nd Association of American
Geographers Conference, Chicago, IL.
Selected
Publications
Livengood, J.S. (Accepted Pending Revisions). The role of leisure in
the personal
spirituality of New Paradigm Christians. Submitted to the special issue
of Leisure Studies on leisure and spirituality.
Stodolska, M., & Livengood, J. S. (2006). The effects of
religion on the leisure behavior of American Muslim immigrants. Journal
of Leisure Research, 38, 293-320.
Livengood, J. S., & Stodolska, M. (2004). The effects of
discrimination and constraints negotiation on leisure behavior of
American Muslims in the post-September 11 America. Journal of Leisure
Research, 36, 183-208.
Links
to Recreation and Sport Management Faculty Web Pages
Chris Brown, Internship Coordinator, Professional Golf
Management Program Dr. Jim Busser, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Chris Cain, M.S., PGA, Director of Professional Golf
Management Program, Assistant Professor in Residence Dr. Cynthia
Carruthers, Associate Professor Dr. Dan McLean, Department Chair and Associate Professor Dr. Kurt Stahura,
Associate Professor
