M. Jean Keller

Dr. Keller also serves as Interim Vice President of Community Engagement and Equity and Diversity.

Prior to this position, she worked Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Transition of the University of North at Dallas and as dean of the College of Education at the University of North Texas for the past 25 years.

She has written or edited eleven books and twelve refereed chapters, and authored over 100 articles on therapeutic recreation and gerontological topics.

In addition, she has given over 400 presentations in the United States and several other countries. Her research interests have focused on therapeutic recreation activities and their efficacy with frail older adults and the role of leisure in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

She is the recipient of national, regional, and statewide awards including the Distinguished Professional Award presented by the National Therapeutic Recreation Society and the J.B. Nash Scholar Award for Research presented by the American Association of Leisure and Recreation.

Her community service was recognized with the National Service to Youth Award presented by the Boys and Girls Club of America.

She was recognized for teaching by the J.H. Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the University of North Texas.

She served as chair of the Board of Directors for the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification; as program coordinator for the Gerontological Society of America's Annual Conference; and as chair of the Therapeutic Recreation Symposium for the Southwest.

Dr. Keller has been awarded over 15 million dollars of funding by external agencies for research and innovative projects.