Dr. Nick
DiGrino is the Associate Dean for Human Services, College of Education and
Human Services, Western Illinois University. Along with other assigned duties,
Dr. DiGrino has oversight responsibilities for the Departments of Community
Health and Health Services Management; Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising and
Hospitality; Kinesiology; Law Enforcement and Justice Administration; Military
Science; Social Work; and Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration.
Dr. DiGrino holds tenure and the rank of Professor in WIU’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, where he served for 18 years as chairperson. Prior to becoming chair of WIU’s Department of RPTA, Dr. DiGrino served for two years as Coordinator of the Leisure Services Curriculum in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services at Iowa State University. He was a member of Western Illinois University’s Department of Recreation and Park Administration faculty for eight years before joining the department at Iowa State University; and prior to pursuing his doctorate; he served as Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Eastlake, Ohio.
Dr. DiGrino has a Ph.D. in Recreation Resources Development from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science Degree in Recreation and Park Administration from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation from Kent State University.
Dr. DiGrino serves on the Illinois Association of Park Districts Research Advisory Council. He has served as a member of the Society of Park and Recreation Educators Board of Directors, Illinois Park and Recreation Association Board of Directors, Iowa Park and Recreation Association Board of Directors, Iowa Community Education Association Board of Directors, and the Illinois Community Education Association Board of Directors. He also served as president of the Illinois Community Education Association. Dr. DiGrino has chaired or served on several NRPA-AALR Council on Accreditation visitation teams.
Dr. DiGrino has written and presented extensively on the topic of local government park and recreation needs assessment, and has provided technical assistance to several dozen local government agencies throughout Illinois. Along with presenting his research at state, national, and international conferences and symposia, he has authored or co-authored numerous articles central to the recreation and leisure services field in research journals and professional magazines.
Dr. DiGrino is a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa and he is a faculty initiate in Rho Phi Lambda as well as Phi Kappa Phi. He has received the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Literary Award and the Iowa Park and Recreation Association Gazaway and Associates Research Award. Dr. DiGrino is a recipient of Indiana University’s Garrett G. Eppley Distinguished Alumni Award.