Rachel Keyworth

I believe teaching is about creating spaces where learning is active, inclusive, and transformative—where students can translate their knowledge into practice in the classroom, community, and beyond to become leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

Contact Info

rkeyworth@springfield.edu
(413) 748-3692

Office

Suite 213
Wellness & Recreation Complex
Campus Map

Department of Sport Management and Recreation

School of Physical Education, Performance and Sport Leadership

Master of Education in Therapeutic Recreation, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass., 2014
Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass., 2011

Rachel Keyworth, MEd, CTRS, is an associate professor and program director of Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation at Springfield College. She has extensive teaching, supervisory, and curriculum development experience across undergraduate and graduate levels, specializing in therapeutic recreation, leadership, inclusion, and program design. Her scholarly and professional work includes national presentations, legislative consulting on youth mental health reform, and community-engaged projects advancing accessibility and equity. A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist since 2015, she also contributes through professional associations, research, and service-learning initiatives that bridge academic learning with community impact.

Research Interests

Therapeutic Recreation Interventions and Outcomes - Intergenerational Programming
Inclusive and Accessible Recreation: Investigating barriers, strategies, and facilitation techniques
Youth Mental Health: Developing sustainable programming and crisis prevention strategies
Impacts of Recreation on Rural Communities

Courses Taught

Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation
Inclusive Recreational Services
Dynamics of Leadership
Processes and Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation
Programming in Therapeutic Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation Management Practices

Certifications and Memberships

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)

Selected Works

Presentations

Program Development to Aid in Youth Mental Health Reform: Topic: Creating sustainable programming, monitoring, and evaluation that promotes long-term change
Presentation Series: Mental Health Reform Strategic Planning Series Topic: Creating a strategic plan for youth mental health reform
Impacts of Recreation on Rural Communities Topic: How can leisure be used to solve community problems and add economic value to rural places