He received his PhD in health, leisure, and human performance from Oklahoma State University in 2009. In 2015, he was certified as a park and recreation professional by the National Recreation and Park Association, from which he also received the Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award. He also was awarded the Charles Adam Esslinger Outdoor Recreation Fellowship. Tapps is a military veteran with recreation programming experience in the military. He is a member of the Academy of Leisure Sciences board and is the president of the Leisure Educators section of Missouri Park and Recreation Association. He is also the chair of the Academy of Leisure Science’s Future Scholars program. Tapps enjoys running, working out, boating, and spending time with his wife and two sons.