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Dr. Tracy Mainieri

Recreation and Park Administration Program Director
Office
SFCM Student Fitness Center & McCormick Hall
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Selected Research

Biography

Tracy Mainieri is an Associate Professor and Program Director in the Recreation and Sport Management program and the Graduate Sequence Coordinator for the Recreation Administration and Applied Community and Economic Development Master's sequences in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation. She received her B.A. in Anthropology from Furman University and both her M.S. and PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from Clemson University. Tracy joined the Redbird faculty in Fall 2013. Since then she has taught in both the undergraduate RPA program and the graduate Recreation Administration Master’s program, teaching primarily leadership, management, and trends courses. Tracy’s professional background and research is in summer camp so she strives to bring what she’s learned at camp about fun, facilitation, and experiential learning into the classroom. She hopes that when students think about the learning experiences they had in her courses, they found those experiences to be collaborative, challenging, active, safe, and engaging. Beyond her assigned course load, Tracy also enjoys seeing students become excited about their own work in independent studies and supervised research projects. Tracy is honored to have been the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Clemson University PRTM Department, the 2016 Innovation in Teaching Award from The Academy of Leisure Sciences, a 2016 ISU Teaching Initiative Award, the 2016-2017 CAST Outstanding Teacher Award (Pre-Tenure Category), and a 2015 Impact Award.

Current Courses

KNR 270.002 Inclusive Recreation & Sport

KNR 287.043 Independent Study

KNR 400.011 Independent Study In Kinesiology & Recreation

KNR 498.001 Professional Practice Parks And Recreation

KNR 171.001 Recreation & Sport Leadership

KNR 171.002 Recreation & Sport Leadership

Teaching Interests & Areas

My core belief about teaching is that learning is a reciprocal agreement among the teacher, the student, and the class group. Learning is not a one-way process of information transmission between each student and the teacher; rather, learning must be an interactive, mutual process that involves individual students, their classmates, and the teacher.

Research Interests & Areas

Summer camp, program evaluation, implementation evaluation, scholarship of teaching and learning

Ph D Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management

Clemson University
Clemson, SC

MS Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management

Clemson University
Clemson, SC

BA Anthropology

Furman University
Greenville, SC

2025 Impact Award

Illinois State University
2025

Kinesiology & Recreation Outstanding Faculty Award

School of Kinesiology & Recreation
2024

MVP Professor

Illinois State University Volleyball
2021

Alumni Award - Academic

Clemson University Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department
2021

RISE to the COVID Challenge Recognition

Provost's Office, Illinois State University
2020

2020 McLean County 20 Under 40

The Pantagraph & McLean County Chamber of Commerce
2020

2020 Impact Award

Illinois State University
2020

University Teaching Initiative Award

Illinois State University
2017

CAST Outstanding Teacher - Pre-Tenure Category

CAST Illinois State University
2016

2016 Innovation in Teaching Award

The Academy of Leisure Sciences
2016

Honorary Member

Rho Phi Lambda, Illinois State University
2015

2015 Impact Award

Illinois State University
2015

Pannhellenic Council Outstanding Faculty Member Nominee

Pannhellenic Council, Illinois State University
2015

Sandra Little Groves Recreation and Park Administration Faculty Development Endowed Fund

Recreation and Park Administration Program, Illinois State University
2015

Pannhellenic Council Outstanding Faculty Member Nominee

Pannhellenic Council, Illinois State University
2014

Francis A McGuire Graduate Student Teaching Award

Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University
2013

Graduate Student Award of Excellence

Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University
2013

Marge Scanlin Outstanding Student Research Award

American Camp Association
2010

Outstanding Graduate Student Award

Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University
2009

Grants and Contracts

CAST DEBI Grant
Olivia Butts, Elizabeth Sattler, Adam Jagodinsky, Tracy Mainieri, Sherri Hildebrand.
College of Applied Science and Technology. January 2022 - May 2022
Dr. Phebe M. Scott Endowment Fund for the Professional Development of Women
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. October 2022 - June 2023
Dr. Phebe M. Scott Endowment Fund for the Professional Development of Women
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. October 2019 - June 2020
SoTL Travel Grant Award
Tracy Mainieri.
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology, Illinois State University. January 1 2019 - June 30 2019
2018-2019 Assessment Initiative Award
Tracy Mainieri, Michael Mulvaney, Rebecca Achen, Brent Beggs, Barbara Schlatter.
University Assessment Services. November 21 2018 - June 30 2019
Dr. Phebe M. Scott Endowment Fund for the Professional Development of Women
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. October 9 2018 - June 10 2019
Dr. Phebe M. Scott Endowment Fund for the Professional Development of Women
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. October 10 2017 - June 8 2018
Dr. Phebe M. Scott Endowment Fund for the Professional Development of Women
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. October 4 2016 - May 31 2017
Teaching Innovations Grant
Tracy Mainieri.
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology. March 16 2016 - June 30 2016
Dr. Phebe M. Scott Endowment Fund for the Professional Development of Women
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. October 12 2015 - May 31 2016
University Research Grant
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. July 1 2015 - June 30 2016
CAST Presentation Travel Program
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. November 6 2014 - February 2015
Dr. Phebe M. Scott Endowment Fund for the Professional Development of Women
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. October 9 2014 - June 30 2015
Undergraduate Research Support Program
Tracy Mainieri, Breida Hill.
Research and Sponsored Programs. August 19 2014 - December 23 2014
Undergraduate Research Support Program
Tracy Mainieri.
Research and Sponsored Programs. May 15 2014 - September 1 2014
University Research Grant
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. July 1 2014 - June 30 2015
2013-2014 Assessment Initiative Award
Tracy Mainieri, Brent Beggs, Amy Hurd.
University Assessment Services. September 20 2013 - June 30 2014
2016-2017 Assessment Initiative Award
Tracy Mainieri, Noelle Selkow.
University Assessment Services. - May 31 2017
CAST Professional Development Award
Tracy Mainieri.
College of Applied Science and Technology. - June 2023
CAST Publications Incentive Program
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. - August 3 2016
CAST Publications Incentive Program
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. - August 3 2016
CAST Publications Incentive Program
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. - May 1 2016
CAST Publications Incentive Program
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. - September 1 2014
CAST Publications Incentive Program
Tracy Mainieri.
CAST Illinois State University. - September 1 2014
Graduate Student Government Professional Enrichment Grant
Tracy Mainieri.
Clemson Univerity. - October 2012

Book, Chapter

Chapter 18. The Nature and Future of Recreation and Leisure as a Profession
Tracy Mainieri.
(2025), Introduction to Recreation and Leisure, Human Kinetics
Crafting the Path Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic in Leisure Higher Education
Tracy Mainieri.
(2024), Leisure Matters: Exploring Leisure in a Changing World, Sagamore Venture
Chapter 18. The Nature of Recreation and Leisure as a Profession
Denise M Anderson, Tracy Mainieri.
(2018), Introduction to Recreation and Leisure

Journal Article

Parting Thoughts LI
Tracy Mainieri.
Leisure Sciences, 4, (2025)
Embarking on a rhetorical exploration: Accommodating science (or not) in leisure research
Tracy Mainieri, Dorothy L Schmalz, Denise M Anderson.
SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, (2019)
“It wasn’t just another week at camp”: Evaluating the Teens Leading and Connecting structured camp curriculum
Tracy Mainieri, Denise M Anderson.
Camping Magazine, 88 (2), 18-23, (2015)
Let your research flag fly! How to magnify your camp story with research
Tracy Mainieri, Denise M Anderson.
Camping Magazine, 88 (4), 12-17, (2015)
“There was more out there than our street”: Exploring summer camp as a context to foster civic engagement and social capital after camp
Tracy Mainieri, Denise M Anderson.
Research in Outdoor Education, 13 (2015), 38-58, (2015)
The EDGE of Learning: Clemson University’s Parks Recreation, and Tourism Management Immersion Semester
Elizabeth D Baldwin, Tracy Mainieri, Robert Brookover.
Schole, 28 (1), 63-76, (2013)
They Know My Name: New Dynamic Role of Faculty
Francis A McGuire, Teresa W Tucker, Tracy Mainieri.
Schole, 28 (1), 105-111, (2013)
A matter of perspective: Exploring wearable personal cameras as a reflection tool for undergraduate recreation leadership students
Tracy Mainieri.
Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies & Recreation Education, 2017 (2), 109-123
Exploring the ‘black box’ of programming: Applying systematic implementation evaluation to a structured camp curriculum
Tracy Mainieri, Denise M Anderson.
Journal of Experiential Education, 38 (2), 144-161
Exploring the post-camp civic outcomes and the supporting program features of the Teens Leading & Connecting program
Tracy Mainieri, Denise M Anderson.
Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 33 (2), 54-72

Textbook, Revised

Kraus' Recreation & Leisure in Modern Society
Amy Hurd, Denise Anderson, Tracy Mainieri.
(2021), Jones & Bartlett Learning

Presentations

The Impact of Employee Psychological Empowerment on Job Satisfaction in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of Hotels in a Midwestern City
James Nyamekye, Tracy Mainieri, Michael Mulvaney, Rachel Smith.
University Research Symposium, Normal IL, April, 2025
Helping NTT Faculty Thrive at Illinois State
Rachel Smith, Tracy Mainieri.
2024 Teaching & Learning Symposium, Thriving at Illinois State University, Normal, IL, January 10, 2024
Leading from your values
Tracy Mainieri.
Leadership McLean County 2021 Mid-Year Retreat, Online, January 8, 2021
Exploring the impact of a group discussion exam on student learning
Tracy Mainieri.
2019 Teaching Professor Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 8, 2019
Contemporary perspective on a lifetime of teaching observations
Francis McGuire, Tracy Mainieri.
The Academy of Leisure Sciences Conference on Research and Teaching, Clemson, SC, February 27, 2019
Exploring the Experience of Women in Sport Leadership and Management
Chrishaya Dixon, Tracy Mainieri.
University Research Symposium, Normal IL, April, 2018
2016-2017 Assessment Initiative Awards: Examining the Meanings Students Create
Derek Meyers, Noelle Selkow, Tracy Mainieri, Renee Watson.
2018 Teaching & Learning Symposium, Normal, IL, January 10, 2018
Lessons Learned Incorporating Student Strengths Assessment into an Undergraduate Course
Tracy Mainieri.
2018 Teaching & Learning Symposium, Normal, IL, January 10, 2018
Diversity & Identity in Campus Recreation
Olivia Butts, Tracy Mainieri.
Illinois Intramural Recreational Sport Association State Workshop, Normal IL, October 26, 2017
Diversity Competence
Olivia Butts, Tracy Mainieri.
Central Illinois Recreation Council for Leisure Experience Fall Connection, Normal IL, October 11, 2017
An Easy Tool to See What's on Your Counselor's Minds
Tracy Mainieri, Nick Sorenson.
Mid States Camp Conference, St Charles, IL, April, 2017
The Impact of a Lifeguard Olympics Staff Development Program in Campus Recreation
Erik Bricker, Brent Beggs, Tracy Mainieri.
University Research Symposium, Normal IL, March, 2017
The Impact of a Lifeguard Olympics Staff Development Program in Campus Recreation
Erik Bricker, Brent Beggs, Tracy Mainieri.
National Intramural Recreational Sports Association Annual Conference, National Harbor, Maryland, February 23, 2017
The habits of productive scholars: Conversations with early-career faculty members
Jerry Lee, Tracy Mainieri.
Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, February 9, 2017
Exploring Disproportionately Low Female Participation Rates in Collegiate Intramural Sports
Daniel Gaytan, Tracy Mainieri, Brent Beggs, Daniel Elkins.
National Intramural Recreational Sports Association Annual Conference, Kissimmee, FL, April, 2016
Exploring disproportionately low female participation rates in collegiate intramural sports
Daniel Gaytan, Tracy Mainieri, Brent Beggs, Dan Elkins.
University Research Symposium, Normal, IL, April 8, 2016
Exploring Wearable Personal Video Cameras As A Reflective Tool For Recreation Undergraduates
Tracy Mainieri.
Academy of Leisure Sciences Teaching Institute, Greenville, NC, February 26, 2016
Using Counselor Implementation Journals to Explore the Processes at Work in Two Girl Scout Summer Camps
Tracy Mainieri.
American Camp Association National Conference, Atlanta, GA, February 11, 2016
Using Counselor Implementation Journals to Explore the Processes at Work in Two Girl Scout Summer Camps
Tracy Mainieri.
American Camp Association National Conference, Atlanta, GA, February 10, 2016
Supersize Your Course: What to Do When Enrollment Skyrockets
Tracy Mainieri, Maria Schmeeckle, Julie-Ann McFann.
2016 Teaching & Learning Symposium, Normal, IL, January 6, 2016
Exploring Recreation Managers' Perceptions of Leadership and Management
Rachael Oprondek, Tracy Mainieri, Taylor Witter.
National Recreation & Park Association Congress & Exposition, Las Vegas, NV, September 17, 2015
Telling your camp’s story through structured counselor journals
Tracy Mainieri.
American Camp Association Midstates, St. Charles, IL, April 17, 2015
Exploring the use of structured counselor journaling as a camp implementation evaluation tool
Tracy Mainieri, Breida Hill.
American Camp Association National Conference, New Orleans, LA, February 4, 2015
Exploring the use of structured counselor journaling as a camp implementation evaluation tool
Tracy Mainieri, Breida Hill.
American Camp Association National Conference, New Orleans, LA, February 4, 2015
There was more out there than our street: Exploring a structured summer camp curriculum as an avenue to fostering civic engagement and social capital
Tracy Mainieri.
American Camp Association National Conference, Orlando, FL, February 6, 2014