Ohio Gerontology Programs
Pursuing an education in gerontology opens up a wealth of opportunities for career development and advancement. As the global population ages, the demand for professionals skilled in understanding and addressing the needs of older adults continues to grow. This field offers diverse career paths, including roles in healthcare, social services, policy-making, and research.
By gaining specialized knowledge in gerontology, individuals can position themselves as experts in a critical and expanding area, enhancing their employability and potential for leadership roles. Moreover, the interdisciplinary nature of gerontology education fosters a broad skill set, making graduates valuable assets in various sectors dedicated to improving the quality of life for older adults.
Review the list of Ohio universities and colleges below that offer gerontology certificates, minors, undergraduate, graduate and PhD degree programs.
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Brandon HemmingerNursing Home Administrator, Bowling Green ManorWhat is your degree background? I earned my bachelor’s degree in applied health science with a specialization in health care administration from Bowling Green State University. What is a day in the life for you at your job? My day to day life as a Nursing Home Administrator changes and evolves daily! One of the great joys of this occupation is the daily challenge of adapting to the environment and being ready to wear any number of different hats throughout the course of the day. While no two days are ever the same, one constant is in my interactions with our Residents. The first thing I do when I arrive each day, is to go room to room to greet each resident and to say, “Good morning!” I take as much time out of each day as possible to spend socializing with our Residents in some way, whether it’s joining in on a card game, playing BINGO, or having lunch with them. Building relationships is the purpose I had in beginning a career in Long-Term Care so those moments I’m able to spend with our Residents is priceless! How has your work impacted older adults? I have worked in Long-Term Care for 13 years, with seven of those being a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA). Over the years, my focus has always been on providing my community’s residents with the absolute highest level of care, safety, respect, and love. It has been a great privilege of my life to have had the opportunity to make a positive impact on so many older adults, and it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. What advice would you give to your younger self when thinking about working with older adults and the aging population? Working with older adults and the aging population requires you to step out of your comfort zone and to be prepared to embrace new challenges every day, sometimes even every hour! To have a successful career requires you to have the willingness to adapt to an always changing environment, and to come in every day with a servant’s heart – always be prepared to serve others! | Lauren Feyh, MNM, LNHA, ACC, CDP, CMDCPInstructor of Practice, The Ohio State University, College of Medicine, School of Health and Rehabilitation SciencesLauren Feyh, an Instructor of Practice at The Ohio State University, is also the Co-Founder and Co-Director of GrowIN – Intergenerational Community Programming, a grassroots nonprofit organization. This organization focuses on education, wellness, and arts programming. Lauren was honored as one of the inaugural fellows for the Eisner Prize Fellowship, which provided funding for their program called Buds n’ Blooms. This initiative bridges generations by connecting master gardeners with older adults and undergraduate students to create modified, accessible gardens. Participants receive tailored education sessions on gardening best practices, and the harvested produce is donated to nutrition cooking programs. In these cooking programs, Buds and Blooms participants, alongside a Registered Dietitian, teach the community how to prepare meals using fresh produce. Additionally, Lauren collaborates on the ARISE program (Arts Through Intergenerational Social Engagement), a collaboration between Columbus Association of the Performing Arts, The Ohio State University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (OSU HRS), and GrowIN. This program involves older adult members of At Home By High (a village in Columbus, Ohio) and residents of the Worthington Christian Village Retirement Community Assisted Living and long-term care. The ARISE program connects high school students, college student mentors, and older adults through a 5-week storytelling through the performing arts workshop, allowing them to bring their own stories to life. Lastly, Lauren’s Get up and MOVE exercise program is expanding. It connects older adults in the community with Undergraduate Health Science students and Doctoral Occupational Therapy (OTD) students. These exercises are designed by OTD students and are broken up into 4-6 minute circuits, followed by 4-6 minute health and wellness discussions. |
University of AkronContacts: Dr. Jennifer Tehan Stanley, Director – jstanley@uakron.edu | Bowling Green State UniversityContacts: Dr. Charlie Stelle, Coordinator- cstelle@bgsu.edu |
Central State UniversityContacts: Dr. Edison Perdomo – Acting Chair – eperdomo@centralstate.edu | Cleveland State UniversityContacts: Elizabeth Domholdt, Director, School of Health Science |
Kent State UniversityContacts: Kelly Cichy – Program Coordinator – kcichy@kent.edu – 330-672-2449 | Miami UniversityContacts: Aaron Abbott – abbotta3@MiamiOH.edu |
The Ohio State UniversityContacts: Jessica Krok-Schoen, PhD | Wright State UniversityContacts: Dr. Hyejin Kim, Program Director- hyejin.kim@wright.edu – 937-775-2751 |
Youngstown State UniversityContacts: Dr. Daniel Van Dussen – Program Director – djvandussen@ysu.edu |
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES WITH PROGRAMS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATOR BOARDS (NAB)
(Graduates of these programs are eligible to sit for licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator in the state of Ohio)
Bowling Green State University
Contact Jennifer Wagner: Contact Info- jawagne@bgsu.edu
Kent State University BS in Long-Term Care Administration
Contact Donna Alexander, PhD: Contact Info- dalexa2@kent.edu
Shawnee State University Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration
Contact Sarah Boehle, PhD: Contact Info- sboehle@shawnee.edu
Youngstown State University Master of Health and Human Services
Contact Dan Van Dussen, PhD: Contact Info- djvandussen@ysu.edu