Biography

Born and raised in the Northeast (Brooklyn, New York, and Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania), Dr. Garcia is a native East Coaster, who has literally worked from Coast to Coast. Committed to promoting the value of research not being limited to the publication of its words, but rather the impact it has on the world around us; Dr. Garcia has over a decade of experience within higher education. Having worked at some of the top public institutions in the country, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Santa Barbara, he has honed his application of leadership theory, organizational and personnel management, and strategic planning, in the field and through work on nationally recognized committees. With the belief and proven application of professional development through a wellness and well-being lens, he has come to URI as the current Associate Director of Campus Recreation and a great addition to the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies.

Dr. Garcia’s research centers around the development and application of transferable life skills across disciplines/fields (ie. Sports and non-sport-related careers). Applying quantitative methodologies to a predominately qualitative topic, he critically confronts the positive and negative biases that exist within sports, leadership, and professional development. As for his involvement within the field of Higher Education, Dr. Garcia has presented at numerous conferences, currently serves as the Chair of the NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation Research and Assessment Board, and will hold a seat on the URI Mental Health-JED Task Force.