Newsmaker: Colleen Cooke

Newsworthy: Cooke will chair the American Therapeutic Recreation Association's Election Task Force, where she will lead its examination of bylaws and policies that relate to nominations and elections, and make recommendations to the board of directors by March 7.

Age: 55

Residence: West View

Family: Wife, Janet; son, Max, 26; daughter, Dara, 29

Education: Associate's degree in recreation leadership, Duchess Community College, 1982; bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation, Slippery Rock University, 1984; master's degree in education psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 1989; doctorate in health care education, Nova Southeastern University, 2002

Occupation: An assistant professor of parks and recreation at Slippery Rock, Cooke also is advisor to the women's rugby team, co-advisor of the LGBT and Allies Student Group, co-chair of the President's Commission for LGBT issues, and chair of the SRU Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties Gender Issues and Social Justice Committee.

Background: Cooke has worked at Sewickley Valley Hospital as a community outreach specialist and therapeutic recreation specialist, Allegheny Valley Counseling Center as a coordinator of training and social rehabilitation and UMPC Braddock as a clinical supervisor.

Quote: “It's exciting. I'm up for the task, and I think it needs to be done. I'm really looking forward to having a positive impact on the organization and the leadership, and I think we're going to do that.”