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Stephen A. Wolter Named Academy Fellow for 2008

Stephen Wolter, Executive Director of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, has been named a 2008 Fellow by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2008

Baltimore, MD. -- The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration selected Stephen A. Wolter as a 2008 fellow.  Wolter has served the park and recreation field since 1978, contributing to the field, encouraging scholarly efforts and promoting broader public understanding of the park, recreation and public lands management field.  Wolter current serves as the Executive Director of the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands and leads major programs in technical assistance, research, training and education and planning for Indiana University.  He has been the primary architect of the Eppley Institute’s outreach, technical assistance, research, training and education efforts for the National Park Service, various state and many local agencies across the nation. 

Assigned to the School of HPER Dean’s office at Indiana University from 2003-2006 as Executive Director of Development and Communications, Steve was responsible for highly successful fundraising and communications programs in HPER.  His considerable experience in the area of philanthropy, marketing and public relations is transferrable to the park and recreation field.

Mr. Wolter holds a masters degree in Recreation and Park Management from Indiana University and an Urban Studies baccalaureate degree from the University of Minnesota.  He teaches leadership, philanthropy and fundraising, public policy, and information technology classes at IU while consulting with various public park and recreation agencies in his primary role as Executive Director of the Eppley Institute.  With over 60 major presentation, 7 awards, 25 publications, and over $8 million in grants while at Indiana University, Wolter was honored at the Academy’s annual dinner along with 2008 Cornelius Amory Pugsley award winners, Henry L. Diamond, Vern J. Hartenburg, and Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putman.  Indiana University alumni Tony Mobley, Jim Ridenour and Eugene Young are among the recipients of the prestigious Pugsley award recipients.

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration exists to advance knowledge related to the administration of parks, recreation and conservation in the nation, and is dedicated to research, education and service.  Limited to 180 fellows world-wide, Wolter was one of 8 fellows named to the Academy in 2008.

Further information on the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration can be found at www.aapra.org.  Further information can be obtained by email to: info@aapra.org.