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.
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
Ph.D., LMSW, APHSW-C
Social Work Program
D.H.Sc, MPH, MLS(ASCP)cm, SH(ASCP)cm
Medical Laboratory Science Program
PhD, MS, OTR/L
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
PhD, MS, OTR/L
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
MSIG
God Cares Ministry
MPH, RDN, LD
Nutrition Sciences Program
Ad-hoc Members
MFN, RD, LD
Nutrition Sciences Program
Melissa W. Burek
Associate Dean & Professor/Co-Director Center for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
PHD
Dean's Office and Criminal Justice Program
Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Communication Sciences & Disorders Department
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
MPH, HSE, LNHA, CEAL
Gerontology Program
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
Ph.D.
Public & Allied Health Program
OTD, MOT, OTR/L, BCPR
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
Kerri Knippen
Coordinator of Clinic, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator
PhD, RDN, LD, BC-ADM, FAND
Food & Nutrition Program
Shannon K. Orr
Director of Falcon Food and Resource Community & Falcon Food Pantry, Professor
Ph.D.
Political Science Program
Siva priya Santhanam
Director of Communication and Neurodiversity Lab, Associate Professor
Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Communication Sciences & Disorders Department
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
Updated: 08/13/2026 09:03PM