Dr. Steven Waller

Steven advises and mentors undergraduate and graduate students in the recreation and leisure administration portion of the Recreation and Leisure Studies program. He teaches courses in administration, programming and evaluation, facility development and maintenance, trends and issues, philosophy and concepts of recreation and leisure, fiscal policies, management and operations, and special topics in recreation and leisure. Dr. Waller served as an executive level manager in parks and recreation agencies in the Midwest for more than two decades.

Dr. Waller’s research foci include: public and non-profit agency management; recreation and community development; and theology, leisure and religion.

Dr. Waller received his A.A. in Pre-Social Work, B. S. degrees in Municipal Recreation Administration and Rehabilitative Recreation from Ferris State University, and an M.A. in Recreation and Park Administration from Central Michigan University. Steven also completed all coursework requirements for the M.P.A. degree while attending the University of Michigan. He earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Parks and Recreation Administration. Additionally, Steven holds an M. Div. with emphases in Theology and Pastoral Care and Counseling from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a D. Min. in Pastoral Care and Counseling from United Theological Seminary.

Dr. Waller currently serves as a recreation and leisure studies text book reviewer and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy. He has also served as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration.

Steven is also an active member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), the Tennessee and Ohio Park and Recreation Associations, the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), the Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA), the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies (CSKLS) and the Association of Church Sport and Recreation Ministers (CSRM).

Recent Publications

Waller, S. (2006). Recapturing the abundant life: Leisure counseling as pastoral care (Doctoral dissertation. United Theological Seminary, 2006). ProQuest formerly UMI (in press).

Waller, S. (2006). Recapturing the abundant life: Leisure counseling as pastoral care (Doctoral dissertation, United Theological Seminary, 2006). Dissertation Abstracts International (in press).

Waller, S. “Waterfront development as an economic development catalyst,” Journal of Public Management and Social Policy. Submitted July 2006.

Waller, S. “Caring for busy congregants: Leisure counseling as a pastoral care intervention.” Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Submitted July 2006.

Waller, S. (2006). “Protecting people and parks: Crime prevention through environmental design,” Public Administration Times, 29 (7), 4, 9.

Waller, S. (2005). “Parks as a place of public protest,” Public Administration Times, 28 (7), 5, 8.

Contact Information

Dr. Steven Waller
Assistant Professor

1914 Andy Holt Ave.
358 HPER
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-2700

Phone: 865-974-1279
Email: swaller2@utk.edu
Fax: 865-974-8981

Contact CEHHS

335 Claxton Complex 1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Phone: 865-974-2201
Fax: 865-974-8718