Cathy O’Keefe, a native of Baltimore, came to Alabama in 1969 to attend Spring Hill College and remained to work in the mental health field.  She expanded her therapeutic recreation practice to geriatrics, hospitalized children, and hospice after completing her graduate degree.  She has taught at USA for over 20 years and is active in professional associations in the areas of ethics and philosophy.  She served on the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification and was given the Distinguished Service Award by the National Therapeutic Recreation Society in 2002 for leadership, professional development, and scholarly contributions.  Cathy is a frequent speaker at local, state, regional, and national conferences.  She and her husband, Dennis, are members of L’Arche, an international federation of communities for persons with disabilities.  They have five children.

An essay by Mrs. O’Keefe for students interested in therapeutic recreation