The board's main goal is to increase awareness of the health, community-building and the societal benefits of leisure time. The board will focus on stress, heart disease and obesity.

"The advocacy group has been called upon to increase the overall quality of life and indirectly our physical and emotional well being and our longevity as a nation." said Ward, who is also an academic representative to the National Tourism Association and a chair of CSUN's Department of Leisure Studies and Recreation.

Ward said she is proud of being asked to join the board.

"After so many years in recreation, parks and the tourism profession, I feel the recognition reflects all of my years of education, hard work and professional involvement," she said. "It is a way of acknowledging my expertise, commitment and value as a partner in shaping the future direction of the profession."

Ward said she looks forward to the board's findings.

"My personal goals will, naturally, be shaped by those of the board. I think you can tell from my background that I worry about the burden of care giving that falls to many women, eliminating their access to valued leisure time," she said.

California State University, Northridge has more than 32,000 full- and part-time students and offers 59 bachelor's and 41 master's degrees. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher learning."