Stephen J. Langsner, who dedicated 34 years to the College of Education and Health Professions' Recreation and Sport Management program, had a meaningful influence on students and colleagues throughout his career.

Langsner, who retired in 2023, passed away on June 13. His colleagues in the Department of Health Human Performance and Recreation are hosting a celebration of life event in his honor on Sept. 25 from 2-4 p.m. in the Arkansas Union. A Zoom option is available for those who can't attend in person.

The Steve Langsner Scholarship in Recreation and Sport Management was recently created in the College of Education and Health Professions to support undergraduate students in his program who demonstrate leadership. Additional donors are invited to help build the scholarship beyond its initial funding level. Those interested in contributing to the scholarship fund are invited to donate on the giving page or reach out to Director of Development Tracee Norris at traceen@uark.edu for more information.

Langsner taught thousands of students in his more than three decades of teaching, many of whom appreciated his "engaging storytelling and straightforward teaching style," said department head Michelle Gray. In addition to instructional work, Langsner made significant contributions to his department, serving as program coordinator on four separate occasions. He also served as assistant dean for academic affairs in the college for four years and co-directed the honors program.

"On a personal note, I will deeply miss Dr. Langsner's friendship and the positive influence he had on me," Gray said.

Amanda Sullivan, a teaching associate professor of exercise science, called Langsner "quite a character."

She said while he had a knack for sharing his strong opinions, he had an even greater gift for making others feel cared for and supported. "He dedicated his life to teaching others," she said. "He was able to relate to his students through entertaining personal stories of working on cruise ships and other outdoor adventures. He encouraged his students to show up, listen with open minds, learn from others' experiences and challenge existing assumptions. He made a lasting difference in the lives of generations of students."

Langsner, who earned his doctorate in recreation at Indiana University, joined the college in 1989. Over the years, he earned his department's outstanding teaching award several times. In addition to helping develop the curriculum that led to the U of A undergraduate recreation major becoming the first accredited recreation program in Arkansas, Langsner developed and taught multiple courses in recreation. His work was also frequently published in academic journals on issues relating to continuing professional education in recreation and therapeutic recreation. 

Sullivan recalled that when Langsner retired in December 2023, he went through everything in his office, spent time considering his colleagues' interests and gave them items he thought they would enjoy having.

"It was such a thoughtful gesture," she said. "His colleagues were his family. From time spent at Teaching Camp, to hallway banter and, more recently, visits to the hospital and hospice, his work family was there for him."

Sullivan enjoyed spending time with him over the past year, learning more about his childhood, sports background, college years, cruise ship antics, work in administration and more.

"His life was a vibrant journey, filled with amazing experiences and a touch of cantankerousness that made him uniquely him, and he lived it with few regrets," she said.