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.
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Mary Ligon, Ph.D., CTRS Term: 2011-2012
Assistant Professor
Behavioral Sciences Department
York College of Pennsylvania
324A Life Sciences Bldg.
York, PA 17405-7199
Phone: (717) 815-6646
Mary Ligon, Ph.D. Mary Ligon is an Assistant Professor in the Behavioral Sciences Department at York College of Pennsylvania where she teaches gerontology and human services courses. Ligon holds a BS in Therapeutic Recreation from Radford University, and received her Master’s in Gerontology and PhD in Health Related Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University. Ligon specializes in psychosocial development in late life, experiential learning, and intergenerational programming. Drawing on her background as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and her extensive experience working with elders in healthcare settings, Ligon’s primary research interests involve investigating the role of reminiscence-related activities in psychosocial development of older adults and the impact of incorporating experiential learning opportunities into the college curriculum. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented research outcomes at regional and national conferences. Ligon is professionally active within the field of gerontology. She assisted York College in gaining Institutional Membership in the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) and serves as the Institutional Representative for York College within AGHE. She is a member of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and Sigma Phi Omega (SPO) the national academic honor and professional society in gerontology. Having completed a term as Member at Large, Ligon currently serves as chapter advisor for Omega Gamma, and as President-Elect on the Executive Board of SPO.
SECRETARY
Dawn Carr, PhD, Term: 2009-2012
Carolina Program in Health and Aging
Research at the Institute on Aging
720 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, CB #1030
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1030
Ph: (919) 966-9444 (work); 513-258-7343 (cell)
Dawn Carr, PhD, received her Master’s in Gerontological Studies and her PhD from the department of Sociology and Gerontology at Miami University and is currently a Carolina Program for Health and Aging Research (CPHAR) Postdoctoral Fellow at the UNC-CH Institute on Aging. 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. Her service to the profession has included reviewing abstracts, participating on the student committee, and serving on the Higher Education Committee for AGHE. She is also currently serving on the Research, Education and Practice (REP) Committee for the Gerontological Society of America, and is co-PI of the Gerontology Education Longitudinal Study (GELS) which documents and examines the development of the field of gerontology
and the preparation of gerontological scholars. Her other research focuses on issues related
to healthy retirement, as well as the policy aspects of wandering among individuals with dementia.
TREASURER
Pamela Pitman Brown, M.A., A.B.D., Term: 2011-2013
Doctoral Candidate
396 Upham Hall
Miami Univerisity
Oxford, Ohio 45056
Pamela Pitman Brown, M.A., A.B.D., is a doctoral candidate in Social Gerontology at Miami University. Brown joined SPO as a member in 2006 with the Alpha Zeta Chapter (University of South Alabama) and was Chapter President from 2006-2008. She served as the Student Representative on the SPO Executive Board from 2008-2010. Brown was a 2007 AGHE Intern in Washington, D.C. where she worked closely with the SPO Executive Board. Brown received her B.S. (Education) from Auburn University, her M.A. (Sociology) and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from the University of South Alabama. Brown is also active on AGHE’s Student Committee, the K-12 Committee, and the Programs Committee. She was the 2007 Scholarship Recipient of the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging (SE4A). Her research interests are sexual health in aging women and sexuality across the life course. She is in the process of becoming a Certified Sexuality Educator through AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists), and has attended AASECT’s Summer Institute in Richmond, VA. Brown is also completing her certificate in Sexual Health Education at the University of Michigan’s Sexual Health Certificate (UMSHC) program offered in partnership by the University of Michigan Health System Center for Sexual Health and the University of Michigan School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Professional Education.
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 doctoral student at Virginia
Commonwealth University studying Health Related Science with
an emphasis in Gerontology. Her education includes a Master of Arts from the Leonard Davis School at the University of Southern California and Masters in Adult Education from Cleveland State University. In addition to her current SPO position, Candace also serves on committees for AGHE and GSA. Her passion in gerontology surrounds health and wellness. She is the owner of the a small business, Seasons of Life ™, which is dedicated to life extension for the wiser generation.
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Harvey Sterns, Ph.D., Term: 2010-2012
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: 2010-2013
Guest Scientist
Universitat Zürich
Zentrum für Gerontologie
Sumatrastrasse 30
CH-8006 Zürich
Kelly Fitzgerald, Ph.D. is a Guest Scientist at the University of
Zürich, Center for Gerontology in Switzerland. Her responsibilities include developing research on older people and disasters. Her research has included investigating the roles and responsibilities of health practitioners of older adults in emergency management and an evaluation of nursing home emergency preparedness. She has served on several GSA, AGHE, BSG (British Society of Gerontology), and IAGG committees and is committed to the promotion of gerontological education internationally.
Katie Ehlman, Ph.D. Term 2011-2014
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Director of the Centr for Healthy Aging and Wellness
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47712
phone: 812.461.5332
Katie Ehlman, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Gerontology and
the Director of the Center for Healthy Aging and Wellness at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). As a SPO Board Member at Large, it is my hope to contribute to this professional body, first and foremost, because of my commitment to the field of gerontology. It is my belief that academic excellence in the field of gerontology is enhanced through interdisciplinary collaboration not only within individual universities, but among universities. In 2010, I led an effort to resurrect the Sigma Phi Omega Chapter at USI where 17 student members from eight different disciplines were inducted to SPO. Over the last two years at USI, I have been co-advisor for three student organizations: Sigma Phi Omega, STELLAR (Students and Elderly Linking Around Relationships) and the Health Services Student Research Group. Prior to moving into an academic setting, I spent nearly ten years in long term care administration. As a licensed nursing home administrator, my research interests lie in nursing home/care setting quality as well as connecting the generations through oral history projects.
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.
