Dale Larsen is a professor of Practice and director of Administrative Operations for the College of Public Programs at Arizona State University and has been a manager in the parks and recreation field for 4 decades.

Formerly the director of the Phoenix, Arizona, Parks and Recreation Department, where he was responsible for the executive administration of 1,000 full-time personnel and a $90 million operating budget.

He teaches undergraduate and graduate level coursework in management, leadership, and community organization at Arizona State University.

Larsen was a president of the American Academy for Park and Recreation and served as a chairman for the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.

He is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association and advises the City Parks Alliance.

Larsen has been married to his bride Christine for 41 years and is a proud father and grandparent who practices never growing up.