Faculty Profiles

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Dr. Shelby Marie Sharpe

  • Clinical Assistant Professor - Dept of Health & Human Performance
Portrait of Dr. Shelby Marie Sharpe

Biography and education

Shelby started her career in recreational therapy completing her undergraduate degree at Texas State University. She has been a recreational therapist for 10 years working in a variety of settings such as acute psych, municipal recreation, and military. She is passionate about using recreational therapy to support and empower her clients. Shelby earned her Master's in Public Administration for Northeastern University in Boston, MA and her PhD in Health, Leisure and Human Performance from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Thomas, K. A., Kaitlin, M. E., Farrell, J. W., Sharpe, S. M., & Heffner, C. J. (2025). Recreational Therapy, Exercise Physiology, and Athletic Training: Interprofessional Collaborative Practices for Adaptive Sports. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 59(2), 163–183. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2025-V59-I2-12599
  • Kim, M. B., Thomas, K. A., Sharpe, S. M., & Farrell, J. W. (2024). Understanding Reasons for Participation and Barriers Within Adaptive Sports for Individuals with Physical Disabilities. Recreational Sports Journal, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/15588661241292027
  • Sharpe, S. M., Passmore, T., Thomas, K. A., Lindenmeier, D., & Winston, J. (2023). Operation growth: The impact of heroes on the water kayak fishing on post-traumatic growth in U.S. Military Veterans. Annual in Therapeutic Recreation, 57(4), 321–339. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2023-V57-I4-11974
  • Passmore, T., Beasley, M., Brickell, B., Lindenmeier, D., & Jackson, S. M. (2022). Community Based Recreational Therapy Treatment Case Report: Parkinson’s Disease.
  • Parveen, S., Passmore, T., Brickell, B., & Jackson, S. M. (2021). Community-Based Multidisciplinary Program for People with Parkinson Disease: A 2-year comparison.
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Certification of Appreciation, Warrior Transition Unit-Ft. Sam Houston/BAMC. 2019 - Present
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Certification of Appreciation, Warrior Transition Unit-Ft. Stewart. 2018 - Present
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Peg Connolly Scholarship, ATRA. 2021
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College of Education & Human Services Scholarship, Oklahoma State University-College of Education & Human Services. 2021
  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2020 Ed Supina Scholarship, TRSSW. 2020
View all awards
  1. Member

    TPWD Accessibility Advisory Committee

  2. Organizer

    HHP Agency & Grad Fair

  3. Co-Chair

    HHP Student Champions Committee

  4. Co-Chair

    ATRA Quality Internship Supervisor Committee

  5. Secretary

    TRAPS TR Branch Board

  6. Member

    Scholarship Committee College of Education

  7. View all activities