Christina Coleman
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411 N Central Ave. Suite 550 Phoenix, AZ 85004
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Mail code: 7805Campus: Tempe
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Dr. Christina J. Coleman, PhD, MSRLS, MEd, CTRS
Assistant Research Professor & Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Community Resources and Development | Arizona State University
Dr. Christina J. Coleman is a scholar-practitioner in Recreational Therapy whose work bridges research, teaching, and community engagement to advance psychosocial well-being and inclusive leisure across the lifespan. Her interdisciplinary research explores how therapeutic recreation, community design, and well-being interventions can improve participation and quality of life for individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
Dr. Coleman currently serves as an Assistant Research Professor and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University, where she contributes to advancing evidence-informed practice, interprofessional education, and inclusive community systems within the Recreational Therapy program.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Rehabilitation Sciences | May 2025
Recreational Therapy and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Focus
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Dissertation: Learning 2 BREATHE: A feasibility study exploring the participation of youth with physical disabilities part in a mindfulness-based intervention to increase self-regulation and social participation.
Master of Science in Recreation and Leisure Services (MSRLS) | August 2011
Emphasis: Therapeutic Recreation
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Master of Education in Physical Education (MEd) | May 2008
Emphasis: Adaptive Physical Activity
Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX
Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Studies (BS) | December 2006
Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX
Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts (AA) | August 2004
Trinity Valley Community College, Athens, TX
Dr. Christina J. Coleman studies how inclusive leisure, therapeutic recreation, and built environments improve psychosocial well-being and community health. She studies recreational therapy accessibility, participation, and evidence-based practice using mixed methods and data. Her work increasingly uses big data and secondary datasets to identify inclusion and health outcomes patterns and program evaluation to improve community resources. Dr. Coleman seeks equitable, data-informed systems that improve interprofessional collaboration and quality of life for disabled people across the lifespan through this research.
Research and Collaboration
Three intersecting themes guide Dr. Coleman’s research:
- Translating Research to Practice in Recreational Therapy
- She leads a national hybrid bibliometric–content analysis of the recreational therapy profession (2005–2025), paired with a practitioner survey exploring how evidence, theory, and experience inform clinical decision-making and professional identity.
- Built Environment, Accessibility, and Disability Equity
- Her Phoenix Metropolitan Area study (YouGov sample, n=800) examines how neighborhood accessibility, belonging, and leisure engagement relate to well-being among adults with and without disabilities.
- Interprofessional and Community-Based Health Promotion
- Dr. Coleman collaborates with ASU’s Public Health program and local agencies on initiatives related to school health, active transportation, and community safety—applying leisure and health frameworks to inclusive public health planning.
Her scholarship appears in peer-reviewed journals, national and international conference presentations, and collaborative grant initiatives focused on health equity, disability, and inclusion.
Courses
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NLM 310 | Volunteer Management |
| RTH 460 | Assessment&Documentation in RT |
| NLM 310 | Volunteer Management |
| PRM 310 | Volunteer Management |
| PRM 306 | Adv Programming & Facilitation |
| RTH 394 | Special Topics |
| PRM 310 | Volunteer Management |
| RTH 460 | Assessment&Documentation in RT |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NLM 310 | Volunteer Management |
| NLM 310 | Volunteer Management |
| PRM 310 | Volunteer Management |
| PRM 310 | Volunteer Management |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PRM 203 | Program Planning |
| CRD 302 | Inclusive Community Developmnt |
| CHS 494 | Special Topics |
| RTH 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
| RTH 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
| RTH 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PRM 203 | Program Planning |
| RTH 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
| CRD 302 | Inclusive Community Developmnt |
| RTH 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
| PRM 306 | Adv Programming & Facilitation |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CRD 302 | Inclusive Community Developmnt |
| CRD 302 | Inclusive Community Developmnt |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CRD 302 | Inclusive Community Developmnt |
| PRM 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
| PRM 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
| PRM 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PRM 203 | Program Planning |
| CSM 203 | Program Planning |
| CRD 302 | Inclusive Community Developmnt |
| PRM 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
| PRM 364 | Foundations of Rec Therapy |
Dr. Coleman teaches experiential learning, reflection, and applied scholarship. She encourages students to apply theory, evidence, and empathy in inclusive classrooms. Her courses emphasize critical thinking, community engagement, and leadership, including Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation, Program Planning, Assessment and Documentation, Inclusive Community Development, and Empowered Well-Being.
She uses community partnerships, simulations, and service-learning projects to prepare students for diverse rehabilitation and community health settings with confidence and ethics.
Her teaching philosophy emphasizes active, co-creative learning that fosters curiosity, compassion, and purpose. She empowers students to promote inclusion and change in therapeutic recreation and health promotion through socially embedded education and evidence-based practice.
Dr. Christina J. Coleman develops therapeutic recreation programs, evaluates accessibility, and integrates evidence-informed practice with organizations, academic programs, and community agencies. Her consulting strengthens organizations to provide inclusive, data-driven, client-centered recreation and wellness services. She has worked with rehabilitation hospitals, community recreation departments, and university programs to design adaptive leisure initiatives, evaluate program outcomes, and implement APIED-based staff training. While advising on research translation, interprofessional education, and program evaluation, Dr. Coleman helps agencies use evidence and outcomes data to improve quality and sustainability. Her approach connects policy, practice, and lived experience through clinical insight, applied research, and systems thinking. She consults in healthcare, education, and community sectors to promote leisure and well-being equity.
Dr. Christina J. Coleman brings over a decade of diverse professional experience as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) across clinical, community, and academic settings. Her career began in behavioral health and pediatric rehabilitation, providing individualized and group-based interventions focused on emotional regulation, social participation, and leisure skill development.
She has practiced in both acute and long-term psychiatric treatment environments, including the University of Utah’s Huntsman Mental Health Institute and Laurel Ridge Treatment Center in San Antonio, TX, serving youth, adults, and military populations. In these roles, she developed and implemented evidence-informed programs addressing trauma recovery, stress management, and functional independence through recreation-based modalities.
Beyond direct clinical practice, Dr. Coleman has contributed to program development, staff training, and service excellence initiatives, advancing quality improvement and person-centered care. Her industry experience continues to inform her academic teaching and research, bridging theory and practice to prepare students for meaningful, ethical, and evidence-based therapeutic recreation careers.
Christina J. Coleman is dedicated to community health and inclusion through pro bono and service-based work. She has worked with local agencies, nonprofits, and rehabilitation programs to create accessible leisure and wellness programs for disabled people, youth in recovery, and isolated older adults.
Her community engagement includes facilitating adaptive recreation programs, accessibility audits for community parks and recreation facilities, and evidence-based program evaluation for small agencies seeking service improvements. Dr. Coleman's Socially Embedded Teaching Projects, like “Make a Friend Friday @ the Westward Ho,” combine student learning with civic action to combat social isolation and promote intergenerational wellness.
She also offers free consulting and training on inclusive program planning, trauma-informed facilitation, and leisure education to local and state organizations. Her community partnerships demonstrate her belief that recreational therapy is a profession and social responsibility that ensures equitable leisure and well-being for all.