David Thomas

David Thomas, PhD, is a “professor of play” and executive director of online programs at the University of Denver. He previously spent almost 20 years at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus where he held a variety of roles, including as a faculty member and leading CU Online. His research centers around fun, fun objects (like buildings!) and the meaning of joy. His work delves into the deep human connection with play and argues for the ability of fun to transform our daily lives. Co-author of the book Fun, Taste & Games, he is also the co-founder of Professors at Play, a community of educators working to increase play pedagogy in the academy. He says, “I have always been interested in the strange, the oddball, the unusual, the unique, the wonderful, the joyous and the playful. This love of play and fun lead me down a path of academic study and discourse that continues to provide delight and interest.”

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