Dissertation Title:
"The Flow Experience of Adults Age 50 and Older in Recreational Doubles Pickleball"

Tell us a little about your background. How did you end up at UNI?
Iowa State University (Marketing), The Wharton School/University of Pennsylvania (MBA), five years on the corporate Ladder, husband joined the family company (Wayne Engineering, currently the UNI Prairie Center!), QUIT the career-fast track and became a full time mom for 22 YEARS!  All four children joined the military after high school (U.S. Naval Academy, Coe College/University of Iowa U.S. Air Force ROTC, West Point, and U.S. Air Force Academy!) and the house became QUIET.  Started training for the Senior Games in Track and Field (50 yard dash and long jump) to inspire me to go to the gym. Was discouraged by Rec Center managers when I offered to help a club of 50+ folks training for the games together in town. They said "there's no money for these programs, and it will take science to prove that sports are important for these age categories to get funded." Basically, I got mad, decided to create the science (because sports for age 50+ had huge potential to help people age well) and with Dr. Chris Edginton (Dr. E), enrolled in the EdD program at UNI!

How did you choose your area of focus for your dissertation? Why was this important to you?
My initial dream was what I call my "Fab Four" project: work with (previously not so active) women in their 60s, have them train for the 50-yard dash at the Senior Games together, and record the experience (social, physical, emotional impacts) via journaling, Vlog and interviews. COVID-19, plus a lot of other hurdles, made this not happen (But I still want to do it someday!!!) Pickleball was showing up in the media for old people...and in every article, a player would profess he/she was "addicted" to the game. I decided to find out if FLOW might have something to do with this high level of enthusiasm! 

If you've had experience with a graduate assistantship, what did you gain from that experience?
I did grad assistantships with Dr. Julianne Gassman (and earned a Certified Nonprofit Professional certification while there--thank you, Dr. Gassman!), research in recreation therapy with Dr. Kathleen Scholl (great experience in data analysis). Very much appreciated these!!!

What three adjectives describe yourself? 
Faithful, Energetic, Fun

What does completing your degree mean to you?
WOW...its meaning gets bigger and bigger as I get closer to my defense! Graduation will be the same day as my 35th Class Reunion at Wharton!  As the days go on, the significance (and amount of effort) of graduating at this age is sinking in.....it was the only way though, to put me on a great path for helping to contribute to the health of older persons as we age currently (while I'm in my 60s) and continue with a professional career in the field for the next 20 years (I do not plan to retire until my 80s).

What challenges did you face as you worked toward this degree – and how did you overcome them?
Ooof. Adjusting to the academic environment (versus a heated business environment) was difficult....I kept trying to "sell" things, not probe them academically.  I also took on unique volunteer projects along the way, which at times, while very positive contributions to the community (strategic planning project for St. Vincent de Paul, founded LED Brighter Communities (ledbc.org), and helped Cedar Falls high schoolers earn four Congressional Award Bronze Medals and an EPA Youth Leadership Award), were distracting. Learning how to think more conceptually/theoretically did not come quickly. I am grateful to my professors, particularly my Dissertation Committee, for their contributions (and patience) to the elevation of my capacities. It was NOT easy! The list gets longer....in the first semester, I ended up with HORRIBLE PAIN in my hands. I ended up having to navigate this with a formal designated handicap and took a semester off during my dissertation process to have a large tumor removed from my left hand. I made it by pacing my typing, changing my health regimen, and going to the movies (honest!) when I needed to totally stop and rest my hands. Generationally, I felt totally welcome and I'm grateful to the students that helped me learn to use on-line homework systems, strategic use of online resources, social media and even how to use Word better (none of this technology was part of being a stay-at-home mom!). It was heavy work at first, but an easy undertaking with everyone's support.

What’s your best memory of your time at UNI?
When I arrived on campus there were a number of international doctoral students working with Dr. E as part of the Youth Institute and other functions. Camp Adventure buzzed across the hall. Working together on various projects with Dr. E and his incredibly diverse team of recreation enthusiasts (so enthusiastic that they'd committed years, and hundreds of hours of their time to the development of themselves, their skills, and ultimately to the future of recreation science) is by far my best memory. I look forward to helping to develop knowledge of the impacts of older adult participation in recreational sports with teams of similar enthusiasm, diversity, and talent! Also, people's enthusiasm on campus when I became Mrs. Iowa 2020 (which included a 10-day all expense 10-day trip to compete in Mrs. America in Las Vegas!) was fun, including the campus interview and article in the Graduate College newsletter. I doubt I would have had the courage to put myself "out there" to compete in the pageant had I not been testing my mettle (repeatedly!) as I maintained engagement in my doctoral classes!  

We often say UNI is student focused; a place where professors care--and teach; a place where learning happens in and out of the classroom;  and is perfectly sized. Do any of these statements rings true for you?
#3, in and out of the classroom. The doctoral students working together on Youth Institute projects consisted of students from the USA, Middle East, Asia and Africa. As a result of one project, I traveled to South Africa and presented my research project to faculty at the University of Western Cape (at the end of my presentation, they all confessed that they had not yet become aware of pickleball!).  Dr. E helped me to write an overview article (about pickleball) that was published in the Hong Kong Recreation Journal (and likely helped to share pickleball with many on the continent for the first time).  Dr. Gute (UNI psychology professor) has helped me have my questions regarding flow answered by Dr. Csikszentmihalyi and helped me to speak in person with Dr. Susan Jackson, author of Flow in Sports and a co-creator of the DFS-2 (!!!)  about my research! These opportunities were fantastic, and happened outside the classroom.

What advice would you give to students considering UNI?
Be present every day and lean in. You will benefit only if you invest yourself in the process. Pain means you are doing something that is either completely ineffective or very worthwhile. Wisdom is knowing the difference (in the two). Don't give up. You will prevail. 

What's next?
Speaking tours and developing several nonprofit concepts.