JOSEPH STOUT '79 

Deputy Commissioner

Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Westchester County 

When Mercy College began the process of switching its Therapeutic Recreation program from a "specialization to a "major" in 1984, Joseph Stout was there to help guide the process. He enlisted the help of experts in the field to meet with Mercy staffers and determine the feasibility of the move. He gave unselfishly of his time and energy.

But that's not out of the ordinary for him, according to both former professors and his current students at Mercy. The Mercy alumnus has served as an adjunct professor of Recreation Administration and Programming at Mercy since 1994. He has remained a staunch advocate of the school.

As for his day job, Stout is first deputy commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation for Westchester County. His oversees the entire Parks, Recreation and Conservation operation and is specifically responsible for marketing, administration and personnel. In addition, he is responsible for the department wide services of Capital Facility Planning Information Technology and Concession Management and recreation programs that annually serve more than 300,000 people. Five of the people who work for him are Mercy graduates with whom he went to school.

After receiving his bachelor's of science degree in Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 1979, he was certified as a parks and recreation professional in 1984. Stout then went on to earn a master's of science degree in Recreation and Parks Administration from Herbert H. Lehman College of CUNY in 1985. He also taught at the latter college for a year, in its Recreation and Parks department. 

Stout has been a member of the National Recreation and Park Association for more than 20 years, as well as the New York State Recreation and Parks Society, Inc. He served as president of the latter organization in 1990-91. Stout is also active in the Westchester Recreation and Park Society, Inc., and served as its president from 1988 to 1990, as well as the Rails to Trails Conservancy, Inc. and the Nature Conservancy, Inc. Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.