US Play Coalition names First Executive Director

The US Play Coalition at Clemson University has named Carly Summers its first executive director.  The US Play Coalition is housed in the parks, recreation and tourism department in College of Health, Education and Human Development.  It was founded and is co-chaired by Fran Mainella, a visiting scholar at Clemson and the 16^th director of the National Park Service, and Brett Wright, chairman of the PRTM department. “We are so thrilled to have Carly as our first-ever executive director of the US Play Coalition. She has the skills, personality and drive to advance the value of Play in all of our lives,” Mainella said. Summers has been administrator of the coalition since August 2012. She played a major role in the success of the 2013 Conference on the Value of Play, which attracted more than 300 participants for 70-plus educational sessions. Since her hire, she has contributed to the growth of the US Play Coalition network, which now has more than 1,800 individuals. “I believe the last eight months have prepared me well, and I look forward to continuing a close working relationship with director Mainella and Dr. Wright,” Summers said. “I hope you will all celebrate with me by going out to play today, tomorrow and the next day.”