{"id":1084,"date":"2024-12-11T10:08:49","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T15:08:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/recsports\/?p=1084"},"modified":"2025-09-17T15:18:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T19:18:20","slug":"wellness-spotlights-mary-patay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/recsports\/2024\/12\/wellness-spotlights-mary-patay\/","title":{"rendered":"Mary Patay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Name | Years at Miami | City, State<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Mary Patay, Ph.D., CPRE | 1988-1992 | Mackinac Island, MI<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job Title | Current Employer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Recreation Director | City of Mackinac Island<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1992, BA, Psychology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn About Mary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the recreation director for the City of Mackinac Island and varsity soccer, basketball and golf coach I feel that it is important to teach all that are willing to learn the importance\u00a0of health and wellness especially in the recreation field. I have seen how recreation and physical activity has enhanced the lives of many members of my community’s physical and mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
What do you do to recreate, live well, and have fun?<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

I tend to spend my time outside hiking, biking and cross-country skiing with my husky.  In addition to those activities, I enjoy reading and crafting.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What does health, wellness and recreation mean to you and why is it important in your life?<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

Health, wellness and recreation are a lifestyle for me.\u00a0I enjoy being active-especially\u00a0outside.\u00a0I live in a beautiful area and there is nothing like going for a walk in the woods to help reduce my stress and reboot.\u00a0I feel that it is my duty to not only teach about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle but to live as an example.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How did your role in Miami Recreation help you get to where you are today?<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

My role in Miami Recreation was to vote to increase my activity\u00a0fees even though the campus recreation center would be completed after I graduated.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Advice that you would give a first-year college student at Miami today.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

Find your place, explore new activities, do what makes you happy. If you have a chance to travel, find a way to make it happen, you never know when you will get another chance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Favorite Miami Recreation Memory<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>
\n

I loved playing intramural\u00a0sports ranging from soccer to flag football, broomball to water polo.\u00a0It was a great way to meet new people and hang out with friends.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Awards \/ Recognitions \/ Personal or Career Accomplishments<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Writer for the Michigan Fitness Foundation- EPEC Play (physical education curriculum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chairperson on The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finalist for the Governor’s Fitness Awards Director’s Champion of Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Member of mParks (Michigan Parks and Recreation) professional development committee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chair of the 2026 mParks Conference Committee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Council on Accreditation: Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions Public Representative Council Member<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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