Biography
Alison Stapp began her journey in collegiate recreation at The University of North Texas where she is working to earn her Bachelors in English Literature. Alison joined the UNT Member Services staff in August 2024 and became a Staff Supervisor in April 2025. She was introduced to NIRSA in October 2025 and attended the regional conference. As a senior, she was shown a career path in Recreation by the professional staff at UNT and hopes to pursue her Masters in Entertainment Sports Management.
Questions & Responses
Describe your personal perspective on the role of collegiate recreation within higher education. In your response, explain how being involved with collegiate recreation has impacted your own growth and development as a student.
College recreation within higher education, in my opinion, looks like making student wellbeing a priority. College recreation services development as students, ensures care is being delivered in any and all aspects, and creates a sense of belonging for students on campus no matter their involvement level in recreation. Personally being involved in recreation has allowed me to grow into the person I am today. I feel that I have found a home within my campus, specifically within the recreation center. I have been able to center myself around core values of the UNT Recreation Center that align with my own personal principles and have opened the door for me to live a more fulfilling life as a student, friend, coworker, and individual.
Share the ways you have been involved with NIRSA (e.g., volunteering, presentations, previous leadership roles, etc.). Explain how these experiences have prepared you to represent and advocate for students in collegiate recreation.
I was recently able to get involved with NIRSA Region IV in October 2025. I attended the regional conference in Little Rock, Arkansas and got to experience firsthand the student leadership role in action. I sat in on a variety of presentations and attended networking sessions, allowing me to fully immerse myself in what NIRSA stands for. I feel that my time at the conference served me well and I was inspired to bring my knowledge back to my campus recreation center and share with my fellow Staff Supervisors what I had learned. This opportunity to share has given me the motivation to want to share my experiences and knowledge further with a wider outreach.
Within the context of the NIRSA Strategic Plan, what area/item would you say is a major issue students face today? How would you address this issue during your term?
After reviewing the NIRSA Strategic Plan, I felt that there has been a noticeable decline in student wellbeing with an increase in anxiety, burnout, and other mental health struggles. The NIRSA Strategic Plan identifies wellbeing as a primary goal and recognizes the importance of student wellbeing and mental health and the direct impact that has on overall retention and success. I would address this issue by advocating for the creation/implementation of “third spaces”. Since beginning my college experience, I have been able to find a home at my campus recreation center. Moving far beyond just fitness, the rec center serves for me – and could for others – as “living rooms” of sorts. The development of low stake/non competitive activities being held at recreation centers gives students activities that can both foster a sense of belonging within their community and combat student loneliness which has a direct influence on student mental health and overall wellbeing.
The Student Leadership Team focuses on student development, and Student Member recruitment and retention. What skills, talents, and perspectives would you bring to the Student Leadership Team that would contribute to this focus?
I feel that I would be able to bring my skills in development to further enhance NIRSA’s focus on student development. During my time as a Staff Supervisor, I have made a priority to bring ideas to the table on how we can assist staff members at the UNT Recreation Center in their development both within the job and outside the rec center, as students and as people. I have spent time working on a mentor-mentee program to give students a tight-knit group to depend on closer than a big group of 50+ staff members. As well as working on monthly development goals for staff and collaboration with professional staff to make the recreation center a better place to be for both students and staff.
Describe what role you typically take on a team and how your leadership style will contribute to the Student Leadership Team.
I feel that within a team setting, I like to present myself as a someone who takes initiative. I enjoy being a leader, but I feel that my leadership goes best when I am able to involve everyone. Teamwork for me is getting everyone active within the role. I aim to be a “do-er”, meaning I try to handle my responsibilities as they come and take on projects and tasks I believe I can enhance. I believe I can contribute to the Student Leadership Team by being an active member who wants to be involved as much as possible. I enjoy getting to share and I am always thinking of ways things can grow and change, and I believe I would be of good use in this position.
As a member of the Student Leadership Team, you have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the field of collegiate recreation. However, we acknowledge and respect that you are a student first. Explain how you maintain a healthy balance between your various responsibilities (student, volunteer, athlete, employee, etc.).
I strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance between my class load, my work schedule, and my position as President for the sport club I have ran for 3 years. I find that my life operates well when my days are full of accomplishments, whether it is attending class and doing homework, working 25 hours a week, or running volleyball practice for my sport club and attending regional/national tournaments. I feel that I have recently begun to prioritize delegation in my day to day life and this has made things easier for me to maintain this balance with all the things I do. I am able to rely on my fellow officers of my sport club to help me handle all the duties that come with running a club, along with relying on my fellow supervisors to have my back and help me execute all of my ideas and our shared duties.
