Erik Luvaas, Ph.D., CTRS, CFTG is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Training Program at the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development and Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. Luvaas has a long history of working with and advocating for people of all abilities. He joins University of Idaho after 4.5 years as Assistant Professor of Recreational Therapy in the Department of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Administration at California State University, Sacramento. Prior to entering academia, he was the Recreational Therapist and Program Director for the Recreation Therapy & Movement Arts Program at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Portland, Oregon, and the Youth Sports Program Manager for the nonprofit Paralympic Sports Club, Adaptive Sports Northwest. He has also worked in psychiatric rehabilitation as a Rehabilitation Therapist at Oregon State Hospital and as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) for the Telecare Crisis and Treatment Center in Portland. Luvaas is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and enjoys facilitating nature experiences for clients and students.

• Psychophysiological outcomes of nature engagement
• Recreational therapy interventions
• Equitable access to recreation and leisure services
• Interprofessional education

Hawkins, B.L., Whitely, K.L., Purrington, S., Luvaas, E., Bell Vargas, G. (2023, in review). Towards a better understanding of fieldwork in RT/TR academic programs. Therapeutic Recreation Journal.

Whitely, K.L., Purrington, S., Hawkins, B.L., Bell Vargas, G., Luvaas, E. (2023, in review). How fieldwork is embedded within curricula and coursework in RT/TR academic programs. Therapeutic Recreation Journal.

Purrington, S., Hawkins, B.L., Whitely, K.L., Luvaas, E., Bell Vargas, G. (2023, in review). How RT/TR academic programs structure the NCTRC-eligible internship into their curricula. Therapeutic Recreation Journal.

Luvaas, E. & Shirsat, A.R. (2022, invited chapter, in press). Rescue tourism: How citizen scientists may help in wildfire recovery to regenerate tourism. In Niccolini, F., Azara, I., Michopoulou, E., Barborak, J.R., & Cavicchi, A. (eds.), Nature-based Tourism and Wellbeing: Impacts and Future Outlook. CABI Publishing.

Luvaas, E. & Shirsat, A. R. (2022, February 23). Rethinking virtual possibilities during COVID-19 pandemic: Sacramento Region’s interprofessional response. In J. H. Hironaka-Juteau and S. V. Lankford (eds.), Interprofessional Collaborations in Parks, Recreation and Human Services: Theory and Cases. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Shirsat, A. R. & Luvaas, E. (2021, Sept. 14). Keep it golden: California during and after coronavirus (COVID-19). In D. Gursoy, R. Nunkoo, and M. Sariisik (eds.), COVID-19 and the Hospitality and Tourism Industry: A Research Companion. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Luvaas, E., Stoll, S.K. (2019). Sensory engagement with nature: An interventional study to enhance connection and reduce stress [Abstract]. Proceedings of the World Conference on Forests for Public Health. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International Abstract Database.