The Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan

The mission of the Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan is to stimulate and promote basic and applied research and education about health and wellness for disease prevention, health promotion, health communication, quality of life improvement and related economic benefits for Ohio and beyond. 

HHS-7566

The mission of the Center is carried out through programs and activities related to four major goals.

  • Goal 1: Foster Collaborations: Serve as an incubator for interdisciplinary health and wellness research and educational programs.
  • Goal 2: Create Applications: Develop and operate a “community laboratory” for health and wellness programs, projects and translational research.
  • Goal 3: Advance the University: Establish and sustain the University as a model community for health and wellness.
  • Goal 4: Become an Ohio and national resource: Become a resource for Ohio and the nation for documentation of the economic, social and quality-of-life benefits of prevention, health promotion, effective health communication and healthy lifestyles.

Events & Engagement Opportunities

Committees & Committee Members

  • Beth Williams, Committee Chair
  • Matt Molnar
  • Stephanie Wladkowski
  • Christina Olmstead, Committee Chair
  • Elizabeth Martin
  • Allison Martin
  • Samantha Kopf-Apple, Committee Co-Chair
  • Beth Hunter
  • Matt Molnar
  • Stephanie Wladkowski, Comittee Co-Chair
  • Jason Hughes, Committee Chair
  • Tasha Ford
  • Carolyn Hosenfeld  
  • Eric Cooke, Committee Chair
  • Alissa Karpuszka
  • Sharon Schaeffer
  • Peggy Adams
  • Kate Vallerand
  • Sami Kopf-Apple

Advisory Board Members

martin-allison-faculty-headshot

Ali Martin

Assistant Clinical Professor

PhD

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Wladkowski-Stephanie

Stephanie P. Wladkowski

Professor, Larry & Patty Benz Professor

Ph.D., LMSW, APHSW-C

Social Work Program

carwill-crop

Carolyn Hosenfeld

MLS Program Director/Assistant Clinical Professor

D.H.Sc, MPH, MLS(ASCP)cm, SH(ASCP)cm

Medical Laboratory Science Program

hunter

Beth Hunter

Director of Capstone and Faculty Development and Associate Professor 

PhD, MS, OTR/L 

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

Hughes

Jason Hughes

Associate Professor/Director of Doctorate of Occupational Therapy

PhD, MS, OTR/L

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

jackie-burns

Jacqueline Burns

Community Member, National Awareness Coordinator

MSIG

God Cares Ministry

Bob Lee

Bob Lee

Professor

PHD

School of Applied Human Development

Matt-Molnar

Matt Molnar

Associate Clinical Professor

MSW, LISW-S

Social Work Program

B-Williams

Beth Williams

Assistant Clinical Professor/Director of Undergraduate Dietetics

MPH, RDN, LD

Nutrition Sciences Program

Ad-hoc Members

samantha-kopf

Samantha Kopf-Apple

Assistant Professor

PHD

Criminal Justice Program

Ford-Tasha

Tasha Ford

Associate Clinical Professor

PhD, LISW-S

Social Work Program

Olmstead-Christina-1

Christina Olmstead

Assistant Clinical Professor

MFN, RD, LD

Nutrition Sciences Program

Melissa-Burek

Melissa W. Burek

Associate Dean & Professor/Co-Director Center for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan

PHD

Dean's Office and Criminal Justice Program

Adams-Peggy

Peggy Adams

Clinical Professor/MSW Field Coordinator

Ed.D.

Social Work Program

alissa-karpuszka

Alissa Karpuszka

Assistant Teaching Professor

MSN, RN

School of Nursing

cece-moffett-hesch

Cecilia Moffett-Hesch

Assistant Teaching Professor

MSN, RN, CNE

School of Nursing

Schaeffer

Sharon Schaeffer

Associate Clinical Professor

MPH, RN

Public & Allied Health

Cooke-Eric

Eric Cooke

Assistant Professor

PhD

Criminal Justice Program

elizabeth-martin

Elizabeth Martin

Associate Professor

MSN, RN, MFCS

School of Nursing

Brent-Archer

Brent Archer

Director of Interactional Aphasiology Lab, Professor

Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Communication Sciences & Disorders Department

McGinley_Tracy_A62T4257

Tracy McGinley

Co-Director of Labor Trafficking Education & Research Initiative, Teaching Professor and Program Director for the Criminal Justice Program - Firelands

MA

Criminal Justice Program - Firelands

Wagner-Jennifer-c

Jennifer Wagner

Director of Optimal Aging Institute, Associate Clinical Professor

MPH, HSE, LNHA, CEAL

Gerontology Program

lara.wilken-update

Lara B. Wilken

Co-Director of Labor Trafficking Education & Research Initiative, Assistant Clinical Professor and Coordinator for RN-BSN Program

DNP, RN    

School of Nursing

welch_philip_c

Philip Welch

Director of Public & Allied Health Symposium, Associate Professor

Ph.D.

Public & Allied Health Program

barefoot-2-

Samantha Barefoot

Director of Curriculum, Assistant Clinical Professor

OTD, MOT, OTR/L, BCPR

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

Knippen-Kerri

Kerri Knippen

Coordinator of Clinic, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator

PhD, RDN, LD, BC-ADM, FAND

Food & Nutrition Program

generic-person-icon-nosmile-orange

Shannon K. Orr

Director of Falcon Food and Resource Community & Falcon Food Pantry, Professor

Ph.D.

Political Science Program

thumbnail-siva-edited-2025-age40

Siva priya Santhanam

Director of Communication and Neurodiversity Lab, Associate Professor

Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Communication Sciences & Disorders Department

Durham_Allison

Allison Durham

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Associate Program Director, Assistant Director of Clinical Education, Associate Clinical Professor

Ph.D.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

excellence-for-health-and-wellness-across-the-lifespan-digital

Updated: 08/13/2026 09:03PM