As NIRSA’s 75th anniversary approaches, there is a need for the association to make its history more accessible to members, to amplify diverse perspectives, and to archive our Association’s most significant milestones and individual contributors.
NIRSA history has largely been presented through the legacies of individuals who have made an enduring impact and through the milestones that have shaped the profession of collegiate recreation over time. While this work has been happening for more than seven decades, NIRSA’s History and Legacy Committee—which was reconstituted as a standing committee in the spring of 2023—has been busy this past year curating a range of milestones and profiles of legacy contributors related to our professional association.
Over the coming year, we’re excited to share scores of pictures, memories, facts, insights, testimonials, details, and more. Be sure to follow @NIRSAlive on Instagram and on X, and to bookmark this page of the NIRSA news feed: it’s your chance to learn more about NIRSA’s history!
Join us in Phoenix to celebrate NIRSA history in-person
NIRSA’s History and Legacy Committee will be presenting about the history of NIRSA and about the legacy contributions of professionals in the campus recreation and wellbeing profession at the 2024 NIRSA Annual Conference. We’re planning a fast-paced, interactive quiz-style session. If you’re heading to Phoenix, we hope you’ll drop-in!
Who are the Top 10 humans of your NIRSA history?
The History and Legacy Committee is also hoping to amplify diverse perspectives as we work to honor the individuals and milestones that have made a positive impact on your NIRSA experiences.
Take a few minutes this week to list up to 10 individuals, from your perspective, who have had the most significant impact on NIRSA, on the profession of campus recreation, and on your NIRSA experience. Don’t worry about listing them in any particular order.
- For more information, contact NIRSA Director of Communications,Simon Bravo .
- If you are interested in highlighting your campus or a NIRSA member’s achievements on your campus, pitch us your ideas.
Silvia Chan is the Senior Associate Director of University of Connecticut Recreation and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the History and Legacy Committee. She can be reached at silvia.chan@uconn.edu.
Mark Williams is currently Director of RecSports at the University of Notre Dame and Co-Chair of the NIRSA History and Legacy Committee; you can email him at mwilli44@nd.edu.
