Tinsley to be a visiting professor at Western

Former Mukilteo City Councilmember Tony Tinsley has accepted a position as a visiting professor at Western Washington University for the 2012-2013 academic year.

He will serve as a research associate in the department of psychology and teach introductory psychology during the spring term.

"This is something I've always wanted to do," Tinsley said. "I received my bachelor's and master's degrees from Western, and the chance to return to Western is a wonderful opportunity I just couldn't pass up."

Tinsley received his Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Minnesota and, "when I entered Minnesota my preparation for doctoral study was far superior to that of the students from other schools," he explained.

During his career Tinsley taught at the Universities of Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Texas, and Florida, in addition to his primary position at Southern Illinois University.

When he retired from the City Council, Tinsley said he wanted to spend more time traveling and writing. Those have occupied most of his time this year.

Tony and his wife, Diane, have a chapter on leisure in preparation for a forthcoming volume to be published by the American Psychological Association. He also has a book on psychotherapy and counseling in preparation and is developing a text on the psychology of leisure.

Yet another project on Tinsley’s drawing board is a reference work on leisure, park and recreation sciences.

"I haven't decided whether it will be a two volume handbook or a four volume encyclopedia," Tinsley said. "I want to hear what publishers have to say about the alternatives before making a final decision."

Tinsley laughed when asked why an expert on leisure seems so heavily committed to work.

"I get that question a lot," he said. "I love research and writing and I've never been the kind of guy who is content to just sit around."

-Edited by Beacon staff

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