Education
Ph.D., Aging Studies, University of South Florida;
M.S., Masters of Science (Parks and Recreation Management, with a Therapeutic Recreation Concentration);
B.S. (Health Sciences with a Recreation Therapy Concentration).
Scholarly Contributions
Dr. Sardina's research focuses on interconnections between physical (e.g., pain, sleep), psychosocial (e.g., leisure and constraints, mental health), and contextual mechanisms (e.g., home and neighborhood environments) that support/constrain health and well-being in middle-aged and older adults. Dr. Sardina is interested in multimodal health promotion/protection interventions/programs to promote health and well-being with age. She has 24 peer-reviewed publications (7 included RT students), with 14 of these pertinent to Recreation Therapy (RT) students, professionals, and scholars. She has amassed over 45 professional presentations, and received $125,000+ (PI/Co-I), and is a co-investigator on 2 funded NIH/NIA awards (R01AG079388-01; UF1AG072619-01) with literature contributions forthcoming.
Featured Publications
Kennedy, A.,* Newsham, T., Fugate-Whitlock, E., & Sardina, A.L. (2025). Hydroworx coupled with virtual trail walks to improve symptoms of osteoarthritis: A case study. American Journal of Recreational Therapy, 24(1), 29-44. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.0307
Sardina, A. L., Gamaldo, A. A., Allaire, J. C., Whitfield, K. E. (2022). Exploring the association between affect and leisure activity engagement in Black adults. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences, 77(12), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbac084
Sardina, A.L., Fitzsimmons, S., Hoyt, C.M.,* & Buettner, L.L. (2020). A mentally stimulating activities program for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 18(4), 27-37. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2019.0200
*=RT student involvement
Leadership & Professional Service
Dr. Sardina is an Editorial Board Member for AJRT and The Journals of Gerontology; Series B. She is a reviewer for numerous RT journals (e.g., AJRT, Therapeutic Recreation Journal, etc.), NIH Grant Section Reviewer, and prior Co-Chair for ATRA's Research Institute. She was a Steering Committee Member for the Master Plan on Aging (All Ages, All Stages, NC) and an Advisory Board Member for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Currently, she is the Associate Director for the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core of the South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, a member of ATRA's Older Adult Taskforce, and National Academy of RTs.
Professional Awards & Recognition
Dr. Sardina was recognized for RT and community programming innovations (i.e., Southern Gerontological Society's "Best Practices in Applied Gerontology of 2024 Award" for her Mobile Outreach Health and Resources Fairs for subsidized housing residents; LeadingAge "Best in Show for Innovation Exchange" for a novel sensitivity-training orientation video for new hires in long-term care; and LeadingAge's "Award for Best Practices in Florida" for her innovative Falls Education and Aquatic Training (FEAT) Program, and Mather Institute's Innovative Research on Aging-Silver Award). She was recognized as UNCG Health and Human Sciences Emerging Leader Alumni Award and 2022 SMART Educator of the Year.