PRESIDENT
Rona J. Karasik, Ph.D. Term: 2010-2012
Director, Gerontology Program
Professor, Community Studies
Stewart Hall 363
St. Cloud State University
720 4th Avenue South
St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
Ph: (320) 308-5224
Rona Karasik, Ph.D. is a Professor of Community Studies at St. Cloud State University, where she directs the SCSU Gerontology Program and is co-advisor to the Beta Zeta chapter of Sigma Phi Omega. Karasik joined SPO as life member in 1993 and has served on the national SPO executive board -- first as Member at Large (2002-2005), then as Treasurer (2005-2007; 2007-2009). Karasik has a B.A (Psychology), M.A. (Family Studies/Aging), and Graduate Certificate (Gerontology) from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D.(Individual and Family Studies/Aging) from the University of Delaware. Her research interests and publications include work in the areas of intergenerational service-learning, dementia, aging in the community, housing for older adults, and later life family caregiving.
PAST PRESIDENT
Janice Wassel, Ph.D. Term: 2008-2010
Director, UNCGG Gerontology Program
Univ. of North Caroline at Greensboro
124 McIver Bldg, PO Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336)256-1020 (Office)
Janice I. Wassel, Ph.D. is Director of The UNCG Gerontology Program and a member of the Department of Sociology faculty at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She holds dual degrees from Pennsylvania State University in demography and sociology with a minor in Gerontology. She is a Registered Financial Gerontologist (RFG) and is Associate Dean of the American Institute of Financial Gerontology. Wassel received both pre- and post-doctoral NIA training grants and completed an NIA internship. Her gerontology research focuses on the “Senior Sandwich”, how couples make decisions about retirement timing, post-retirement, pension wealth, the relationship of family caregiving and depression, and family structures and decision-making in caregiving relationships. She’s involved in a number of professional associations, including the Population Association of America, Gerontological Society of America, Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Southern Gerontological Society, American Society on Aging, and is advisor to the Delta Gama chapter of SPO at UNCG.
SECRETARY
Dawn Carr, MSG Term: 2009-2011
Doctoral Associate
Miami University
Scripps Gerontology Center
396 Upham Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
Ph: 513-258-7343
Dawn Carr, MSG is currently a doctoral candidate in the department of Sociology and Gerontology at Miami University. She will be defending her dissertation and graduating in the Spring of 2009 and plans to remain in the academic field. In the past, she has served as student representative for SPO between 2005 and 2008. She has also been strongly engaged in serving the gerontology community in other ways, especially with regard to AGHE’s mission. She has been an abstract reviewer, a member of the student committee, served on the Higher Education Committee, and is currently serving on the Coordinating Committee.
TREASURER
(Brenda) Burgin Ross, MSG, RD, Term: 2009-2011
3100 Kinnamon Road
Winston Salem, NC 27104
Ph: (336) 760-9947
Burgin Ross, MSG, RD, is a registered dietician who earned her Master of Science in Gerontology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she currently teaches as a part-time lecturer in nutrition. She is the owner of her own conslting firm which offers expertise in clinical and management skills applied to specialty hospitals, retirement communities, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and hospice settings. She has previously worked as an account executive in nutrition services and as a regional manager/dietician. She is an active member of the Delta Gamma SPO chapter at UNC-Greensboro and is a member of the Southern Gerontological Society. She serves on the North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition, and has been active with both the North Carolina Dietetic Association and the American Dietetic Association, holding a variety of offices.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Amanda E Sokan, LL.B., MHA
Doctoral Candidate
Graduate Center for Gerontology
University of Kentucky
304C CTW Health Sciences Building
900 South Limestone
Lexington, KY 40536 - 0200
Tel. 859-257-1450 ext. 80191
Amanda Sokan, LL.B., MHA, is a doctoral candidate at the Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky and a Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) doctoral scholar. Her education includes a Political Science degree from the University of Lagos - Nigeria, a Law degree from the University of Buckingham - England, and a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Kentucky. Professional affiliations include past Secretary/Treasurer of the Gamma Mu Chapter of Sigma Phi Omega at the University of Kentucky and membership in the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), British Society of Gerontology (BSG), and Kentucky Association of Gerontology (KAG), and also serving on AGHE’s Global Aging, Program, and Student committees. Locally, Sokan is a member of the Bluegrass Aging Consortium, and currently chairs the Elder Abuse Prevention Committee. Her interests in gerontology include elder rights and justice, in particular elder mistreatment; aging and negotiating healthcare environments; aging in Diaspora, and work force development and planning. Amanda Sokan is the founder of ProfoundlyGero! an organization focusing on matters gerontological
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Candace Brown, M.Ed., MAG
PO Box 2343
Parker, CO 80134
Candace Brown, M.Ed., MAG, is a recent graduate of the
Master of Arts program with the Leonard Davis School at the
University of Southern California. She has a B.S.
(HDFS- Gerontology) and dual minors (Spanish and Sociology)
from The Pennsylvania State University and a M.Ed. (Adult Education) from Cleveland State University. In addition to her current SPO position, Candace also serves on committees of AGHE and ASA. Locally, she volunteers as a board member of the Colorado State University Arapahoe County Extension Board and is a member of the Colorado Gerontological Society. Her passion in gerontology surrounds health and wellness. She is the owner of, Seasons of Life ™, which is dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults through fitness training
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Harvey Sterns, Ph.D., Term: 2009-2010 (1 year)
University of Akron
Suite 340 Arts and Sciences Building
The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-4307
Ph: 330-972-6724
Harvey L. Sterns, Ph.D., is professor of psychology and director
and senior fellow of the Institute for Life-Span Development and
Gerontology at The University of Akron. He is research professor of gerontology at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy, a faculty member in both the Psychology of Adult Development and Aging and Industrial/Organizational Psychology graduate programs, and chairs the specialization in Industrial Gerontological Psychology. Sterns has published extensively on cognitive intervention, work and retirement, career development, training and retraining, and self-management of career and retirement. He is a licensed psychologist in Ohio and is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, and Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. He has served as president of Division 20 Adult Development and Aging of the American Psychological Association, Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Sigma Phi Omega National Academic and Professional Society in Gerontology, and is a past board of trustees member of the American Society on Aging. Sterns has served or serves on the editorial boards of Psychology of Aging, Experimental Aging Research, The Gerontologist, Research on Aging, and Women and Aging.
Kelly Fitzgerald, Ph.D., Term: 2009-2011 (2 years)
Swansea University
Older People & Ageing Research & Development Network (OPAN)
Cymru
Singleton Park
Swansea SA2 8PP Wales UK
Kelly Fitzgerald, Ph.D. is the Network Coordinator for OPAN
(Older People & Ageing Research & Development Network) Cymru at
Swansea University in Wales. Her responsibilities include developing and supporting aging research across Wales. She works closely with the Welsh Assembly Government and other aging organizations to promote the integration of research into practice and policy. Fitzgerald is also a Research Portfolio Development Fellow for the Centre for Innovative Aging at Swansea University in which she is specifically responsible for developing research on older people and disasters. She has served on several GSA, AGHE, and BSG (British Society of Gerontology) committees and is committed to the promotion of gerontological education internationally.
Mary Ligon, Ph.D., Term: 2009-2011 (3 years)
Assistant Professor
Behavioral Sciences Department
York College of Pennsylvania
Country Club Rd.
York, PA 17405-7199
Phone: (717) 815-6646
FAX: (717) 849-1649
Mary Ligon, Ph.D. is a Gerontologist who specializes in psychosocial development in late life and intergenerational programming. She has conducted research investigating the benefits of oral history to older adults and to college students and has presented research findings at both regional and national conferences. Ligon has worked extensively in health care settings with elders. She currently teaches gerontology and human services courses at York College of Pennsylvania.
Since 1980, SPO has grown under the leadership and commitments of its board and presidents. We thank the following past presidents for their commitment to SPO:
1980-82 Dr. Milledge Murphy, University of Northern Colorado
1982-85 Dr. Jane Myers, Ohio University
1985-86 Dr. Harvey Sterns, University of Akron
1986-87 Dr. Gary Lesnoff-Caravalgia, University of Mass. Medical Center, Worcester
1987-89 Dr. Novella Perrin, Central Missouri State University
1989-91 Dr. William Lane, State University of NY-Cortland
1991-93 Dr. Jean Coyle, New Mexico State University & Fort Hays State University
1993-94 Dr. Anthony Traxler, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
1994-95 Dr. Ruth Weg, University of Southern California
1995-96 Dr. Jeffrey Chesky, University of Illinois, Springfield
1996-97 Dr. Pauline Abbott, University of Southern California
1997-98 Dr. Evelyn Mahairas VAMC, Coatesville, PA
1998-99 Dr. Wiley Mangum, University of South Florida
1999-00 Dr. W. Edward Folts, Appalachian State University
2000-01 Dr. Terry Tirrito, University of South Carolina
2001-02 Dr. Graham Rowles, University of Kentucky
2002-03 Dr. W. Edward Folts, Appalachian State University
2003-04 Dr. Joseph Weber, III, California State University, Fullerton
2004-05 Dr. James Peacock, Appalachian State University
2005-06 Dr. Jennifer Kinney, Miami University
2006-08 Dr. Debra Sheets, California State University, Northridge.
2008-10 Dr. Janice Wassel, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
NOTE: Dr. Robert Famighetti, dean of the College of New Jersey, was elected as President-Elect of SPO, to become President in 1987-88. Dr. Famighetti died while President-Elect.
