Gerontology Research Network
Research Participants in the UNCG Gerontology Research Network (GRN) share mutual interests yet diverse research experiences. Below are listed their most current research projects along with contact information. Adaptations and adjustments to the neuromuscular system in response to aging, training, and fatigue.
Kurt Kornatz , PhD 336-334-5548
mailto:kurt_kornatz@uncg.edu
Adult Cochlear Implant Rehab Group
Laura Tallant , Au.D. 336-217-5122
mailto:lmtallan@uncg.edu
Advanced technology for training caregivers to communicate more effectively with elderly persons with dementia
Nancy Green , PhD 336-256-1133
mailto:nlgreen@uncg.edu
Aging Adults as Social Capital
Kenneth Garrison 336-294-2424
mailto:kgcallme@triad.rr.com
Aging and oral health
Bei Wu , PhD 336-256-8579
mailto:b_wu@uncg.edu
Aging, caregiving, and intergenerational relationships
Janice Wassel , PhD 336-256-1020
mailto:jiwassel@uncg.edu
Aging of the workforce
Susan Letvak , PhD, RN 336-3256-1024
mailto:susan_letvak@uncg.edu
Artificial intelligence (AI) applied to human-human and human-computer communication in healthcare and education.
Nancy Green , PhD 336-256-1133
mailto:nlgreen@uncg.edu
Artificial Intelligence (AI) for patient-tailored information in clinical genetics
Nancy Green , PhD 336-256-1133
mailto:nlgreen@uncg.edu
Balance/vestibular testing and fall reduction in the aging population
Laura Tallant , Au.D. 336-217-5122
mailto:lmtallan@uncg.edu
Behavioral senescence
Olav Rueppell , PhD 336-256-2591
mailto:Omitted by preference
Biodemography
Olav Rueppell , PhD 336-256-2591
mailto:Omitted by preference
Biology of aging
Olav Rueppell , PhD 336-256-2591
mailto:Omitted by preference
Business and aging
Janice Wassel , PhD 336-256-1020
mailto:jiwassel@uncg.edu
Caregiving on women's health and their life courses
Janice Wassel , PhD 336-256-1020
mailto:jiwassel@uncg.edu
China's aging populations
Bei Wu , PhD 336-256-8579
mailto:b_wu@uncg.edu
Chronic illnesses in older adults
Jie Hu , PhD, RN 336-256-1025
mailto:jie_hu@uncg.edu
Clinical Social Work with Older Adults
Jay Poole 336-334-4097
mailto:kjpoole@uncg.edu
Close relationships in older adults
Daniel Perlman , PhD 336-256-0134
mailto:d_perlma@uncg.edu
Cochlear implants
Laura Tallant , Au.D. 336-217-5122
mailto:lmtallan@uncg.edu
Cognitive aging
Dayna Touron , PhD 336-256-0410
mailto:d_touron@uncg.edu
Cognitive strategy use and skill acquisition in older adults
Dayna Touron , PhD 336-256-0410
mailto:d_touron@uncg.edu
Communication Disorders
Michael Campbell , MS, MBA, CCC-SLP 336-217-5120
mailto:m_campbe@uncg.edu
Community based aging services and mental health in aging
Jay Poole 336-334-4097
mailto:kjpoole@uncg.edu
Community based services
Debra Wallace , PhD, RN 336-256-0572
mailto:dcwallac@uncg.edu
Community partnerships and aging services
John Rife , PhD, ACSW 336-256-0363
mailto:jcrife@uncg.edu
Cross Cultural Management
Kevin Lowe , PhD 336-334-3055
mailto:kblowe@uncg.edu
Depression
Eileen Rossen , PhD, MSN, RN 336-334-5058
mailto:eileen_rossen@uncg.edu
Design of products and environments for the aging
Tommy Lambeth 336-256-0309
mailto:tom_lambeth@uncg.edu
Diabetes among minority populations (Hispanics and Chinese older adults)
Jie Hu , PhD, RN 336-256-1025
mailto:jie_hu@uncg.edu
Effects of a power training program on function, balance and mobility in seniors
Cody Sipe , PhD, ES, RCEP 336-324-3274
mailto:CLSIPE@uncg.edu
Effects of exercise and wellness programming on chronic rheumatological pain conditions, especially in older adults with a focus on fibromyalgia polymyalgia rheumatic and chronic fatigue.
William Karper , PhD 336-334-3035
mailto:wbkarper@uncg.edu
Elder abuse
Carrie Fernald 336-992-4453
mailto:cdefernal@uncg.edu
Employment and aging
John Rife , PhD, ACSW 336-256-0363
mailto:jcrife@uncg.edu
End of life issues
Carrie Fernald 336-992-4453
mailto:cdefernal@uncg.edu
Enhancing physical functioning in older adults through exercise programming
Cody Sipe , PhD, ES, RCEP 336-324-3274
mailto:CLSIPE@uncg.edu
Environmental factors leading to obesity, such as consumption of high-fat and calorically dense food
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Epidemic of obesity, a major risk factor for the metabolic syndrome, a constellation of metabolic impairments that includes insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Estrogen modified inflammation in adipose, cardiovascular and neuronal tissue.
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Estrogen’s role decreasing the inflammatory effects of aging and diet induced obesity.
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Estrogens as neuroprotective agents
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Faculty and student development in public scholarship
Emily Janke , PhD 336-256-1484
mailto:emjanke@uncg.edu
Family finances across the life course
Janice Wassel , PhD 336-256-1020
mailto:jiwassel@uncg.edu
Financial gerontology/Financial sociology
Janice Wassel , PhD 336-256-1020
mailto:jiwassel@uncg.edu
Friendship of older adults
Rebecca Adams , PhD 336-334-5378
mailto:rebecca_adams@uncg.edu
Function
Debra Wallace , PhD, RN 336-256-0572
mailto:dcwallac@uncg.edu
Gender and health
Jenifer Hamil-Luker , PhD 336-334-3731
mailto:jenifer_hamilluker@uncg.edu
Genetics of age-related hearing loss
Susan Phillips , PhD 336-256-2000
mailto:slphilli@uncg.edu
Gerontology policy
John Rife , PhD, ACSW 336-256-0363
mailto:jcrife@uncg.edu
Growth curve modeling for change over time
William Dudley , PhD 336-256-2465
mailto:wndudley@uncg.edu
Health and safety of older workers
Susan Letvak , PhD, RN 336-3256-1024
mailto:susan_letvak@uncg.edu
Health disparities
Debra Wallace , PhD, RN 336-256-0572
mailto:dcwallac@uncg.edu
Health promotion (depression, quality of life, self-esteem, and psychological well-being)
Eileen Rossen , PhD, MSN, RN 336-334-5058
mailto:eileen_rossen@uncg.edu
Healthy aging
Janice Wassel , PhD 336-256-1020
mailto:jiwassel@uncg.edu
Hearing aids
Laura Tallant , Au.D. 336-217-5122
mailto:lmtallan@uncg.edu
Heart disease and diabetes
Debra Wallace , PhD, RN 336-256-0572
mailto:dcwallac@uncg.edu
Hormonal signals whose secretion is proportional to body fat (adiposity signals, leptin and insulin) reduce food intake and body weight by directly stimulating receptors in the ARC
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Identity formation, communication, and outcomes of partnerships for service-learning and community engagement
Emily Janke , PhD 336-256-1484
mailto:emjanke@uncg.edu
Inflammation and aging
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Inflammatory signaling pathways in obesity causally linked to insulin resistance
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Institutions and the life course
Janice Wassel , PhD 336-256-1020
mailto:jiwassel@uncg.edu
Interaction of aging, sex differences, obesity and inflammation.
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Intergenerational Studies
Kenneth Garrison 336-294-2424
mailto:kgcallme@triad.rr.com
Leadership
Kevin Lowe , PhD 336-334-3055
mailto:kblowe@uncg.edu
Leisure and health of family caregivers of older adults
Leandra Bedini , PhD, LRT/CTRS 336-334-3260
mailto:bedini@uncg.edu
Leisure of woman with disabilities
Leandra Bedini , PhD, LRT/CTRS 336-334-3260
mailto:bedini@uncg.edu
Life course studies
Jenifer Hamil-Luker , PhD 336-334-3731
mailto:jenifer_hamilluker@uncg.edu
Lifestyle (diet and exercise) treatment of chronic disease conditions such as CVD, diabetes, arthritis, etc.
Cody Sipe , PhD, ES, RCEP 336-324-3274
mailto:CLSIPE@uncg.edu
Long term care insurance
Charles Courtemanche , PhD 336-334-3910
mailto:cjcourte@uncg.edu
Long-term effects of delinquency
Jenifer Hamil-Luker , PhD 336-334-3731
mailto:jenifer_hamilluker@uncg.edu
Mental Health and Aging
Jay Poole 336-334-4097
mailto:kjpoole@uncg.edu
Metabolic syndrome, symptoms of which include increased visceral adipose tissue, insulin resistance and increased visceral obesity animal models of these processes
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Metacognition influences on older adults cognition
Dayna Touron , PhD 336-256-0410
mailto:d_touron@uncg.edu
Minority aging
Debra Wallace , PhD, RN 336-256-0572
mailto:dcwallac@uncg.edu
Misbehavior of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA)
William Tullar , PhD 336-334-4526
mailto:wltullar@uncg.edu
Model organisms
Olav Rueppell , PhD 336-256-2591
mailto:Omitted by preference
Nervous system strategies mediating control of upper extremities
Kurt Kornatz , PhD 336-334-5548
mailto:kurt_kornatz@uncg.edu
Noise-induced hearing loss
Susan Phillips , PhD 336-256-2000
mailto:slphilli@uncg.edu
Nutrition education and assessment
Martha Taylor , PhD, RD, LDN 336-256-0326
mailto:martha_taylor@uncg.edu
Nutrition risks and needs of older adults
Martha Taylor , PhD, RD, LDN 336-256-0326
mailto:martha_taylor@uncg.edu
Older adults health and well being
Eileen Rossen , PhD, MSN, RN 336-334-5058
mailto:eileen_rossen@uncg.edu
Organizational leadership and change for community engagement
Emily Janke , PhD 336-256-1484
mailto:emjanke@uncg.edu
Physical activity and cognitive function in older adults
Jennifer Etnier , PhD 336-334-3037
mailto:jletnier@uncg.edu
Psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy Relocation Scale
Eileen Rossen , PhD, MSN, RN 336-334-5058
mailto:eileen_rossen@uncg.edu
Qualitative research methods
Susan Letvak , PhD, RN 336-3256-1024
mailto:susan_letvak@uncg.edu
Qualitative research methods
Leandra Bedini , PhD, LRT/CTRS 336-334-3260
mailto:bedini@uncg.edu
Regulation of food intake and body weight
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Relocation transition experiences and health (psychosocial, and quality of life outcomes of relocation to independent living communities)
Eileen Rossen , PhD, MSN, RN 336-334-5058
mailto:eileen_rossen@uncg.edu
Research emphasizes social psychology and physical activity; current research emphasizes gender/cultural diversity and the relationship between physical activity and quality of life.
Diane Gill , PhD 336-334-4683
mailto:dlgill@uncg.edu
Rheumatology
Carrie Fernald 336-992-4453
mailto:cdefernal@uncg.edu
Risky health behaviors
Charles Courtemanche , PhD 336-334-3910
mailto:cjcourte@uncg.edu
Self esteem
Eileen Rossen , PhD, MSN, RN 336-334-5058
mailto:eileen_rossen@uncg.edu
Sex hormones influencing the efficacy of adiposity hormones as they interact with food intake control systems in the brain
Lynda Brown , PhD 336-256-0320
mailto:lmbrown6@uncg.edu
Speech perception and communication in older adults with hearing loss
Susan Phillips , PhD 336-256-2000
mailto:slphilli@uncg.edu
Sport and Exercise Psychology, with specialization in social psychology of physical activity
Diane Gill , PhD 336-334-4683
mailto:dlgill@uncg.edu
Student design competitions
Tommy Lambeth 336-256-0309
mailto:tom_lambeth@uncg.edu
Teaching emphasizes graduate sport and exercise psychology; and also includes research methods, exercise adherence, and women/gender and physical activity
Diane Gill , PhD 336-334-4683
mailto:dlgill@uncg.edu
Telepractice Service Delivery
Michael Campbell , MS, MBA, CCC-SLP 336-217-5120
mailto:m_campbe@uncg.edu
Therapeutic programs for older adults with dementia and secondary symptoms.
Linda Buettner , PhD 336-334-4131
mailto:llbuettn@uncg.edu
Voice Disorders
Michael Campbell , MS, MBA, CCC-SLP 336-217-5120
mailto:m_campbe@uncg.edu
Wellness for persons of all ages, mid-life and aging issues, assessment, and counselor education
Jane Myers , PhD, LPC 336-334-3429
mailto:jemyers@uncg.edu
Women's labor force participation and retirement
Janice Wassel , PhD 336-256-1020
mailto:jiwassel@uncg.edu