About Us

SAS Alumni Profiles

The University of South Florida’s Ph.D. in Aging Studies program has produced a network of graduates across the country. These graduates hold positions in academia and private industry where they teach, consult, conduct research, analyze public policy, and provide services to older adults. Every year, new graduates join the list below to expand the USF Aging Studies alumni network.

Name - Graduation Year

 Major Professor and Dissertation Title Current Position
Andrew J. Fiscella, 2023

Dr. Ross Andel & Dr. Hongdao Meng; The Influence of Obesity and Lifestyle Factors on Cognition in Middle-aged and Older Adults

 Visiting Assistant Professor of Instruction, School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida
Monica E. Nelson, 2023

Dr. Ross Andel & Dr. Brent Small; Contribution of Contextual Factors and Neuropathology to Dementia

 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Inequalities, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan
Carlyn Vogel, 2022

Dr. Debra Dobbs
Assisted Living Administrators’ Perspectives of How COVID-19 Affected Direct Care Staff

 Research Associate for Pharmacy Quality Alliance
Taylor F. D. Vigoureux - 2022

Dr. Brent Small & Dr. Soomi Lee
Breaking the Vicious Cycle: The Dynamic Sleep—Stress Interplay and its Association with Daily Well-being Among Cancer Survivors

 Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of North Florida
Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya - 2022

Dr. Victor Molinari & Dr. Ross Andel (Past Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Hyer)
Complaint Patterns in US Nursing Homes: 2013-2017

 Instructor in Aging Studies, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Bethune-Cookman University, FL
Christi Nelson - 2021

Dr. Ross Andel
Resilience and Health Outcomes of Sexual Minority Middle-Aged and Older Adults 

 Postdoctoral Fellow in the Health, Sexuality, and Gender Research Center, The Goldsen Institute, School of Social Work, University of Washington 
Victoria Marino - 2021

Dr. William Haley & Dr. Soomi Lee
Multidimensional Well-Being Across Time Scales in Caregivers and Non-Caregivers

 Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Lifespan Stress and Health Research, Boston Healthcare System and Boston University, Boston, MA
Hillary Rouse - 2021 Dr. Brent Small

Early Indicators of Cognitive Dysfunction: The Role of Mild Behavioral Impairment

Medical Science Liaison at Life Molecular Imaging

ADRD Curriculum Reviewer, Training Academy on Aging
Maureen Templeman -2021 Dr. William Haley

Stressors, Resources, and Psychological Well-Being Among Working Black and White Caregivers in the United States

 Assistant Professor of Gerontology, Missouri State University
Dylan Jester - 2021 Dr. Ross Andel & Dr. Victor Molinari
Serious Mental Illness in Nursing Homes: Quality Concerns

Biostatistician
War Related Illness and Injury Study Center
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Joseph June -2020

Dr. Kathryn Hyer
Assisted Living Facilities in Florida: Examining the Factors Associated with Entries, Closure, and Licensure Change

Analyst, Medicare Innovation
ATI Advisory
Amber Tetlow - 2020

Dr Ross Andel & Dr Dave Morgan
Evaluation of Aging and Genetic Mutation Variants on Tauopathy

 Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Bernadette Fausto - 2019

Dr. Jerri Edwards/Dr. Victor Molinari
Interventions to Improve Older Driver Safety

 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University - Newark
Nasreen Sadeq - 2019 Dr. Ross Andel
Home-based Cognitive Monitoring: The Role of Personality and Predictors of Adherence and Satisfaction		 Visiting Faculty
School of Aging Studies
University of South Florida
Adrian N. S. Badana - 2019 Dr. William Haley
Using A Stress Process Model to Examine Longitudinal Racial Differences in Wellbeing and Health: Results from a Population Based Study of Caregiving		 Lead Research Editor, Research Division, Graduate Medical Education, Wellstar Health System, Atlanta, GA
Michelle Arnold - 2018 Dr. Kathryn Hyer
Factors Related to Hearing Aid Use Among Older Adults from the Hispanic/Latino Backgrounds: Findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos 		 Assistant Professor, College of Science and Mathematics, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Sarah Eisel - 2018 Dr. Brent Small
Daily Fatigue and Subjective Cognitive Function: What Influences Daily Quality of Life Issues Among Breast Cancer Survivors?		 Research Data Analyst, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa
Rosalyn Roker - 2018 Dr. Victor Molinari
Perspectives of older Blacks and Whites Living with Serious Mental Illness about Outpatient Mental Health Services		 Evaluation and Quality Assurance Consulting - Commanding Your Care
Kelly Smith - 2018

Dr. Kathryn Hyer
Broadening the Lens: A Systems Approach to Nursing Home Quality Improvement 

 Director of Process Improvement at OPIS Senior Services Group
Jessie Alwerdt - 2017

Dr. Brent Small
Moderation analysis of bowel function among nutrients and physical function or depression, as well as whether bowel function is related to cognition in older adults

 Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Healthy Aging and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
Colleen Pappas - 2017

Dr. Brent Small
How did I Get Here? Testing the Translation of the Morris Water Maze and the Influence of Hemoglobin A1c on Spatial Navigation Performance

 Postdoctoral Research Associate; Iowa State University
Lindsay Peterson - 2017

Dr. Kathryn Hyer
Advance Care Planning

 Research Assistant Professor, University of South Florida
Michelle Pleasant - 2017

Dr. Victor Molinari
Improving dementia care through online training programs

 Health Researcher, Health Services Advisory Group
Angela Sardina - 2017

Dr. Ross Andel
Pain and Physical Function in a Socioeconomically Diverse Sample of Black and White Adults

 Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
 Chantelle Sharpe - 2017 Dr. Ross Andel
Sex after Gray Hair? Association between Sexual Activity, Hugging, and Health among Older Adults		 Visiting Assistant Professor, Connecticut College
Shannon Runge - 2016

Dr. Brent Small
Genetic Moderators of Cognitive Decline

 Health Researcher III, Health Services Advisory Group
Elise Valdez - 2016

Dr. Jerri Edwards
The Effects of Cognitive Training among Individuals with Neurodegenerative Diseases

 Director of Research-Healthcare at Relias Learning in the Relias Institute
Melissa Castora - 2015

Dr. Daniel Meng/ Dr. Lisa Brown
The Impact of Veterans Health Administration's Home Based Primary Care on Health Services Use, Expenditures, and Mortality

 Senior Director of Research, Pharmacy Quality Alliance
Marianne Chanti-Ketterl - 2015

Dr. Ross Andel/ Dr. Alissa Gamaldo
Lipoproteins and Health Outcomes: Cognitive and Physical Function in Older Adults

 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences School of Medicine, Duke University
Elizabeth Handing - 2015

Dr. Brent Small/ Dr. Ross Andel
Mediation and Moderation Analysis of Nutrition, Inflammatory Biomarkers, and Cognition in Older Adults

 Research Fellow at the Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, NC
Kevin Hansen - 2015

Dr. Kathryn Hyer/ Dr. Brent Small
Analyzing the Effect of Complaints, Investigations of Allegations, and Deficiency Citations on the Quality of Care in United States Nursing Homes (2007-2012)

 Assistant Professor,  Health Care Administration Program
Center for Health Administration and Aging Services Excellence (CHAASE)
University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
Sunghan Rhew - 2015

Dr. David Chiriboga
Spatial Ethnic Density and Residential Segregation Effects on Health Status of Older Mexican Americans

 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Center for Applied Therapeutics, Duke University School of Medicine
Amanda Holup - 2010

Dr. Kathryn Hyer/ Dr. Debra Dobbs
Care Setting of the Last Resort: Care Transitions of Nursing Home Residents Directly Admitted from the Community

 President, Low-Slope Solutions Roof Repair
Tiffany Young - 2014

Dr. Cathy McEvoy/ Dr. Megan Janke
"Having Our Say": Exploring the Processes and Feasibility of a Community-Based Participatory Intergenerational Physical Activity Program for Grandparents and Grandchildren

  
Tuo Yu (Tim) Chen - 2013 Dr. Jerri Edwards/ Dr. Megan Janke
The Effects of the A Matter of Balance Program on Falls, Physical Risks of Falls, and Psychological Consequences of Falling among Older Adults		 Visiting Assistant Professor at the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore
Christine Haley - 2013 Dr. Jerri Edwards
Exploring the Relationship between Physical Activity and Everyday Cognitive function in Older Adults: Within- and Between- Person Variability		 Postdoc at Arizona State University in the College of Health Solutions, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion
Jessica Allen - 2012 Dr. William Haley
Bereavement Outcomes among Spousal Hospice Caregivers: The Role of Rumination, Feelings of Relief, and Perceptions of Suffering		 Assistant Professor of Psychology, Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL
Cathy Emmet - 2012

Dr. Debra Dobbs/ Dr. William Haley
Exploring the Advance Care Planning Experiences among Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Individual and Spousal Perspectives

 Community Nurse Educator Coordinator for Empath Health in Clearwater
 Antoneta Granic - 2012 Dr. Ross Andel/ Dr. Brent Small
The Role of Lipoproteins/Cholesterol in Genomic Instability and Chromosome Mis-segregation in Alzheimer’s and Cardiovascular Disease		 Research Associate, Newcastle University
Elizabeth Rickenbach - 2012

Dr. William Haley
Daily Experiences in Stress, Memory, and Emotion in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

 Associate Professor of Psychology at Saint Anselm College
Jessica Krok-Schoen - 2012

Dr. Tamara Baker / Dr. Brent Small
The relationship between self-reported cancer pain and personality in black and white older adults receiving outpatient cancer care

 Assistant Professor, Health Sciences at the Ohio State University

Elizabeth Hudak - 2012



  Dr. Jerri Edwards
The Effects of Cognitive Stimulation and Computerized Memory Training among Older Adults Residing in Independent-Living Facilities		 Assistant Professor, Morsani Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, College of Medicine at USF Health

Kerri Rawson - 2012

 

 

 Dr. Brent Small
Influence of stress and cytokinic profiles on cognitive performance in older adults		 Senior Scientist, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis
Catherine McCarty - 2011 Dr. Debra Dobbs/ Dr. Victor Molinari
Impact of Hospice and Dementia Special Care Units on End-of-Life Care for Individuals with Dementia		 Dementia Coach/Consultant
Brianne Stanback - 2011 Dr. Cathy McEvoy/ Dr. Victor Molinari
Tarnished Golden Years: Older Offenders with Mental Health Problems and Late Life First Time Offenders		 Instructor II and Assistant Director of Academic Affairs for the School of Aging Studies at USF
 Kali Thomas - 2011 Dr. Kathryn Hyer
Patient Safety in Nursing Homes

Faculty Associate, Associate Director of health Services Research, Center for Equity on Aging
Johns Hopkins, School of Nursing
Melissa Lunsman O'Connor - 2010

Dr. Jerri Edwards/ Dr. Ross Andel
How does Mobility Change over Time for Older Adults, and How are Changes Influenced by Cognitive Functioning?

 Assistant Professor at North Dakota State University in Human Development and Family Science Department
Whitney Mills - 2010

Dr. Victor Molinari / Dr. Cathy McEvoy
Personality and Adjustment to Assisted Living

 Research Health Scientist at the Providence VA Medical Center
Chivon Mingo - 2010

Dr. Jessica McIlvane / Dr. William Haley
Identifying and Addressing Health Disparities in Black Older Adults with Osteoarthritis

 Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Director, Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University
Elizabeth Perkins - 2009

Dr. William Haley
Caregivers of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: The Relationship of Compound Caregiving and Reciprocity to Quality of Life

 Research Associate Professor and the Associate Director of the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities (FCIC), USF's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Karon Phillips - 2009

Dr. David Chiriboga/ Dr. Megan Jang
Cultural Competence in Health Care: A Client-Based Perspective

 Scientific Reviewer (contractor) for the NIH Center for Scientific Review, Washington, D.C.
April Temple - 2009

Dr. Ross Andel / Dr. Debra Dobbs
Factors Affecting the Utilization and Quality of Long-Term Care

 Associate Professor in Health Services Administration at James Madison University
Wendy Anemaet - 2008

Dr. William Haley
The Effects of Non-Surgical Intervention on Osteoarthritis of the Knee

 Associate Professor, School of Physical Therapy, Regis University
Elizabeth Bergman - 2008

Dr. William Haley
Service Utilization among Bereaved Spouses and Family Caregivers

 Associate Professor and Chair, Gerontology, Ithaca College
Tiffany Hughes - 2008

Dr. Brent Small
The Role of Lifestyle Factors in Cognitive Aging and Dementia

 Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology, Youngstown State University
Giyeon Kim - 2007 

Dr. David Chiriboga
A Study of the Preliminary Impact of 2001 Florida Tort Reform on Nursing Facility Litigation in One County

 Professor & Chair at Chung-Ang University
Debbie Hedgecock - 2007

Dr. Larry Polivka/ Dr. Larry Schonfeld
A Study of the Preliminary Impact of 2001 Florida Tort Reform on Nursing Facility Litigation in One County

  
Yanen Li - 2007

Dr. Larry Polivka/ Dr. Glenn Mitchell
Medicaid Risk Adjustment with Diagnosis and Pharmacy-Based Adjusters: Does it Work?

 Statistical Analyst at eQHealth Solutions, Tampa, Florida
Mihaela Popa - 2007

Dr. Sandra Reynolds
Modifiable Factors for Disability: Is there Potential for Reducing Racial Disparities in Disability in Older Age?

Director of Clinical Affairs, Bioest International Inc., Tampa, Florida

 
Helen Lamont - 2007

Dr. Jennifer Salmon/ Dr. David Chiriboga
Community Context and Health Disparities Among Older Adults

Long Term Care Policy Analyst at the Department of Health and Human Services, Washington D.C.