EDUCATION:
The Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D., Workforce Education/Training and Development
M.Ed., Adult Education, Graduate Certificate in College TeachingB.S., Human Development and Family Studies, Adult Development and Aging; Minor in Gerontology; Studied Comparative Gerontology in Jongkoping , Sweden
C.H.E.S. National Certification as a Health Education Specialist
Honors: Golden Key National Honor Society; Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society; Alpha Sigma Lambda (Adult Honor Society); Phi Eta Sigma; Pi Lambda Theta
Personal Home Care Certificate
Criminal and Child Abuse Clearances, updated June, 2008-09COMMITTEES
- Allied Healthcare Subcommittee to develop Employer Toolkit: A Guide to Recruiting and Retaining Older Health Care Workers, 2008
- MaturityWorks Alliance Planning Committee for the 2009 Workforce Summit
- Allied Healthcare Workforce Investment Board Steering Committee, Harrisburg, 2003-present
- Panelist, National Council on Aging (NCOA), Anaheim, CA 2006
- Vice-President, Penn State Society for the Study of Workforce and Economic Development (2006)
- Adult Gerontologists in Higher Education (AGHE) Representative on Geriatric Education Center Open Committee, San Diego, CA, 2003; Richmond, Virginia, 2004, and Orlando, Florida, 2005.
- National Council on Aging Panelist, Anaheim, CA, 2006
- National Council on Aging, National Older Worker Employment Partnership (NOWEP)
- Pennsylvania Prime Time Health Advisory Committee, 2004
- Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Exercise (PANA), 2003-2005
- Health and Human Resource Council Committee, Penn State Harrisburg, 2003
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
1/07 - Present, Instructor, Health Policy and Administration, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- HPA 460 - Human Resource Management in Healthcare
- HPA 420 - Essentials of Manged Care
9/06 - Graduate Assistant, Educational Technology, University Park, PA
5/06 - 6/06, Trainer, Management Development, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
8/04 Research Assistant, Penn State School of Nursing, University Park , PA
- Provide assistance to faculty member working on research study in Delirium Superimposed on Dementia
- Student Mentor for Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) program
8/04 Ph.D. Graduate Student in Workforce Education, Training and Development, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Schreyers Course in Teaching Excellence
- Teaching Assistant/Human Development and Family Studies (Fall and Spring 2005-2006): HDFS 129, HDFS 311 & HDFS 433.
4/04 – Present, Adjunct Instructor, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Health and Development, Continuing Education, University Park, PA
5/04 - 7/04 Freshman Testing Counseling Advising Program (FTCAP), Division of Undergraduate Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park , PA
- Provide individual career advising sessions that focus on career related topics, including choosing a major or career
- Assist student in evaluating their educational plans; Discuss Profile of Academic Ability test results; Provide appropriate referral services
9/03 – 7/04, Research Associate, Hartford Foundation Project, The Pennsylvania State University, School of Nursing, University Park, PA
- Coordinate the development and implementation of Geriatric Nursing educational modules for graduate level student nurses to provide them with a specialty in aging
- Supervise staff
3/02 - Present, Health Educator/Outreach Coordinator, South Central Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
- Coordinator of Healthy Lifestyle Program, Using Diabetes as a Model
- Windows, word-processing, electronic mail and data base skills
- Coordinate outreach activities for community-based organizations in Dauphin, Perry, Lebanon, Lancaster and Cumberland Counties
- Promote healthy lifestyles through Train-the-Trainer experiences
- Write summary reports; Conduct Facilitator workshops; Recruit special populations
- Coordinated and marketed programs at Area Agencies on Aging & other community agencies
5/03 - 7/03 Freshman Testing Counseling Advising Program (FTCAP), Division of Undergraduate Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
8/02 – 7/03, Program Assistant, Outreach Program Resources, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Assist Senior Program Developers by conducting marketing research
- Assisted with the 2002 National Rural Women's Health Conference, Washington , DC
- Collaborate with academic faculty/staff in all academic departments
- Assist Senior Program Developers with innovative and continuing projects
- Adult Education Recruiter at several conferences
5/15/00 – 4/5/02 Area Representative, Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (PA AHEC), The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
- Assisted in delivery of workshops, seminars, and major events.
- Assisted in coordinating, planning, organizing, administering, delivery and evaluation of continuing professional education programs to healthcare professionals.
- Human Subject Basic Training Seminar, 2001
- Supported on-site registration processes
- Assisted in the coordination of a three-part interactive Geriatric Series in collaboration with WITF and WPSX studios
- Assisted in the implementation of annual Breast Cancer and Pelvic Cancer Programs
- Facilitated streamlining of the Pelvic Cancer program for rural care practitioners
- Completed applications and acted as liaison between the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh and The Pennsylvania
- State University in applying for Continuing Medical Education credits
- Assisted in coordinating and implementing a Pediatric Airway Management program for rural health nurses in collaboration with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Assisted in the implementation of a three-part self-directed learning series for health care practitioners|
- Assisted in coordination of a Pesticide Workshop for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; conducted educational programs for youth & adults at Farm Show
- Assisted in the review and approval of event orders
- Served as liaison with facility sales/event personnel to assure successful delivery of workshop and conference programs
- Compiled and summarized conference evaluation data
- Assisted in writing summary reports and program evaluations
- Maintained database using Meeting Track Access program
- Coordinated interactive conferences at multiple sites throughout Pennsylvania
- Assisted in the projection of budgets for programs
- Assisted with the design of workshop flyers and brochures
- Assisted in coordinating programs with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Health
1/3/00 - Present, Emergency Day-to-Day Substitute Teacher, Mifflin County School District, Lewistown, PA
7/1/97- 12/31/99 Research Technologist, ACTIVE Project, Gerontology Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Conducted screening activities to determine subject eligibility
- Provided referral services as needed; Trained and certified newly hired field staff
- Collected data and recorded responses using telephone screenings, written tests, computer and observational methods
- Performed psychometric and physical assessments of the elderly in accordance with study protocols
- Served as Public Relations liaison throughout Central Pennsylvania between the university and the community.
- Organized Focus Groups and traveled throughout Pennsylvania
- Interacted with subjects of diverse backgrounds and cultures
- Trained at the New England Research Institute for study protocol
1/96-7/97 Program Coordinator, Noll Physiological Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Scheduled, coordinated and managed meetings
- Organized the Peer Exercise Program (PEPPI) for Dr. William J. Evans in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Area Agencies on Aging, to measure muscle strength, flexibility and balance of subjects over the age of 60 years to promote independent living
- Coordinated on-the-road workshops throughout the state and community with graduate students and our director
- Performed baseline tests on elderly subjects using Keiser Air machines
- Prepared teaching materials, such as procedural manuals, guidelines for use by the community-based peer trainers
- Acted as program liaison between the university and community organizations
- Assisted in the coordination and planning of workshops for over 600 peer trainers
CONTINUING EDUCATION AND SEMlNARS in Healthcare
- Osteoporosis Program for Professionals held at Brookline Village, February, 1996
- Grant Proposal Writing Workshop, The Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference, June, 1996
- Osteoporosis Program for Professionals held at Brookline Village, June, 1996
- Pennsylvania Rural Health & AHEC Conference, June, 1997
- Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference, June, 1998
- Health Policy Administration Spring Semester class on Strategic Planning and
- Marketing for Health care Organizations, 1998
- Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference, State College, PA, June, 2000
- Clinical Breast Cancer Conference, May, 2000
- Pennsylvania Area Health Education Conference, January, 2001
- Meeting Track (Access) Data Base Training for Conference Planners, 2001
- Pennsylvania Agromedicine/Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center Workshop, 2001
- Pennsylvania Forum for Primary Health Care, Hershey, 2001
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Farm Show, Health Education Booth, 2002
- Pennsylvania AHEC 2002 Workshop, Hershey Lodge & Convention Center
- Pennsylvania Farm Show, Health Education, 2002
- Living Well With Diabetes, A Wellness Program, 2002
- Living Well With Diabetes Project, 2002
- 2002 National Women's Health Conference, Washington, DC
- Hospital and Health Systems of Pennsylvania Career Link Workshop, 2002
- Religious Influences on Health and Well-Being in the Elderly, 2002
- Maximizing Grantsmanship Success in the Arts & Health Seminar, 2002
- Physical Inactivity, Exercise and Nutrition, the Noll Summit, 2002
- Strategies: Educational Excellence for Health Care Providers Conference, 2002
- Tufts University Elderly Nutrition and Exercise Laboratory Tour, Boston, MA 2002
- Cross-Sector Arts Programs Tackling Community Health Issues, 2002
- Keystone Health Promotion Conference, June, 2003
- Certified Health Education Specialist Candidate (CHES)
- Diabetes Today Training for Health Educators, Richmond, VA , 2003
- Orthopedics in Art, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, April, 2003
- Healthy Communities Summit, Harrisburg , PA September, 2003
- Diabetes Update Workshop, University of Pittsburgh, 2004
- Health Educators Conference, Penn State Conference Center, 2004
- PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Clean Air for Healthy Children Training, 2004
- PANA BMI Screenings, Diabetes, Obesity and Nutrition Workshop, 2004
- PA Alliance to Control Tobacco Summit, State College, 2004
- PA Health Careers Week, 2004
- Diabetes Today Awareness Workshop, 2005
- Joining Forces for a Healthy & Active State (PANA), 2005
- 2005 Schools Advocate Conference, Somerset County, 2005
- Initiative and Opportunities in Economic and Workforce Development at Penn State Conference, 2007
- Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference, 2008
CONTINUING EDUCATION AND SEMINARS in Gerontology
- Gerontology Conference on the Impact of Work on Older Individuals, October, 1995
- Association of Gerontology in Higher Education Conference, Phila., PA, March,1996
- Served on a panel discussion of the “Sandwich Generation,” March, 1996
- Gerontology Conference on Emotion and Adult Development, October, 1996
- Social Structures Conference on Mobility in the Elderly, October, 1997
- Gerontology Conference on Societal Impact of Aging Self, 1998
- Gerontological Society of America Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 1998
- Keystone Senior Conference, Altoona, PA, 1999
- Societal Structures and Effective Health Behavior in the Elderly, October, 1999
- Geriatrics, a Three-Part Statewide Series, August, September, 2000
- Personal Home Care Administrator's Workshop, State College, 2001
- Human Subject Basic Training Seminar, 2001
- Gerontological Society of America Conference, Boston, 2002
- Blair County Geriatric Interest Network, Aging Workshop, 2002
- 2003 Joint National Council on Aging and American Society on Aging, Chicago, IL, 2003
- Gerontological Society of America Conference, San Diego, 2003
- National Council on Aging, San Francisco, 2004
- Gerontology Conference on Social Structures, Aging, and Self-Regulation in the Elderly, 2004
- Gerontological Society of America Conference (GSA), Washington, DC, 2004
- National Council on Aging, Philadelphia, 2005
- International Conference on the Future of Cognitive Aging Research, 2005
- 5th International Society of Gerotechnologists, Nagoya, Japan, 2005
- Geriatric Nursing Workshop, June, 2005
- Gerontological Society of America Conference (GSA), Orlando, Florida, 2005
- National Council on Aging, Anaheim, CA, 2006
- Adult Gerontologists in Higher Education, Indianapolis, ID, 2006
- Social Structures in Aging Conference, 2006, Aging Individuals, Continuing Challenges
- Social Structures in Aging Conference, 2007
- The Future of Work for an Aging Population, Scientific Conference, Project CREATE, 2007, Miami, FL
- Gerontological Society of America Conference, San Francisco, CA 2007
- National Council on Aging, Washington, DC 2008
CONTINUING EDUCATION AND SEMINARS in Adult Education
- Adult Educator Research Conference, Michigan State University, 2001
- Pennsylvania Career and Technical Education Conference, 2001
- How to Become a Better Communicator: Communicating in a Culture of Responsibility, 2002
- Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board Summit 2002
- Graduate Student Professional Development Workshop, 2002
- Adult Education and Resource Conference, University of North Carolina, 2002
- Governor's Institute for Agricultural and Advanced Technological Careers, 2002
- Pennsylvania Career and Technical Education Conference, 2002
- Pennsylvania Team Council Meeting, Lancaster Career and Technology Center, 2003
- Graduate School Grant Writing Workshop, 2004
- Hendricks Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference, 2005
- Teaching Professor Conference, Atlanta, Georgia 2007
- Hendricks Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference, 2008
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
- Member, Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM)
- Member, Academy Health
- Member, Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
- Member, American Gerontologists in Higher Education (AGHE)
- Member, International Society of Gerotechnologists
- Member, Human Factors Society
- Member, American Psychological Association (APA)
- Member, Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)
- Member, Community Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL)
- Member, Geriatric Interest Network (Blair and Centre Counties )
- Member, National Council on Aging (NCOA)
- Member, American Society on Aging (ASA)
- Member, NCOA Constitutent Group: National Organization of Older Workers Employment Partnerships MaturityWorks Alliance
- Member, American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Research Interests
§ Healthcare Workforce Shortages: Training, Management, Retention & Recruitment
§ Health and Wellness
§ Organizational Development, Job Satisfaction and Competency Modeling
Service to the University
Penn State Society for the Study of Workforce and Economic Development
- Vice-President (2007)
- Secretary (2006)
Penn State Graduate Program in Workforce Education
- Mentor
Women’s Leadership Initiative
- 2005 Student Mentor
- 2006 Student Mentor
- 2008 Student Mentor
Center for the Performing Arts, The Pennsylvania State University
- Usher Volunteer, 18 years
Minority Access to Research Careers
- Mentor (2004)
Penn State Football Games
- Volunteer, Press Box
Penn State Alumni Association - Life Member
ACTIVITIES
- Recruiter for The Pennsylvania State University Adult Education Recruiter at conferences
- Penn State Center for the Performing Arts Usher Volunteer, 15 years
- Miffline County Garden Club
- Penn State Volunteer, Press Box, Football Games
- Penn State Alumni Association
- Pennsylvania Emergency Day-to-Day Substitute Teaching Certificate, July, 2005-2006
- Served on Public Water Committee in Mifflin County-interacted with EPA and DER
- Served as a volunteer for the American Heart Association
- Church Youth Group Leader, 5 years
Paper Presentations
Presentation: Upcoming Appalachian Regional Commission, Tupelo, Mississippi, October 23, 2008.
Presentation: Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11, October, 2006, Kids in Health Care
Presentation: 5th International Society of Gerotechnologists, Nagoya, Japan, 2005
Rural Barriers: Healthy Lifestyles Program Using Diabetes as a Model
Presentation: 2005 School Advocate Conference, Somerset County, June 2005, Diabetes in the Schools
Presentation: The Changing Face of Work and Learning, University of Alberta , Edmonton , September, 2003
Spokus, Diane. “Retiring can be Hazardous to Mental and Physical Well-being: Knowing When and How to Retire”Publications
Rothwell, William J., Sterns, Harvey L., Spokus, Diane M., Reaser, Joel. (2008). Working Longer: New Strategies for Managing, Training and Retaining Older Employees, (New York: AMACOM).
In Progress, co-author of peer review article entitled, Rural Barriers: Healthy Lifestyles Program Using Diabetes as a Model.
Chapters in a Book
Spokus, D. (2008). Succession Practices in New York State Government. In Rothwell, W., Alexander, J., & Bernhard, M. (Eds.), Cases in Government Succession Planning: Action-Oriented Strategies for Public Sector Human Capital Management, Workforce Planning,Succession Planning and Talent Management. Amherst, MA: HRD Press.
Spokus, D. (In Progress). Appreciative Inquiry Practices in Nepal. In Rothwell, W. & Newhard, M. (Eds.). Appreciative Inquiry Case
Studies.
Spokus, D. (In Progress). Appreciative Inquiry Practice in the U.S. In Rothwell, W. & Newhard, M. (Eds.). Appreciative Inquiry Case
Studies.
Poster Presentations
Spokus, D., (2008). (In Progress). Factors Influences Quality of Work Life and Older Health Care Worker Intent to Continue to Work. Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC.
Spokus, D., (2008). The Relationships Among Workplace Characteristics, Quality of Work Life and Turnover Intention, Penn State Graduate School Exhibition.
Reaser, J., Spokus, D., Sterns, H, & Rothwell, W. (2007). Current Perspectives in Working with Adult and Older Workers, Gerontological Society of America Conference, San Francisco, California.
Spokus, D. & Adelman, A. (2006). Rural Barriers: Healthy Lifestyles Program, using diabetes as a model, Gerontological Society of America Conference.
Spokus, D. (2006), Optimizing the Talents of Older Workers.
Fick, D., Mion, L. & Spokus, D. (2005), Potentially Inappropriate Use of Medications in the Elderly, Gerontological Society of America Conference, Orlando.
Spokus, D. & Service, T. (2005). Comparative Workforce Development between the U.S. and Jamaica.
Spokus, D. (2005). Older Workers: Implications for Health Care Shortage Areas.
Spokus, D., Lord, R., White, D. & Song, Ji Hoon (2004), The Impact of Top Management Change: A Practitioner's Perspective, A Study of One Corporation's OD Experience.
Penrod, J., Hupcey, J., Kolanowski, A., Farcus, N., Spokus, D., (2004), Online Geriatric Nursing Modules for Healthcare Professionals, Hartford Foundation Geriatric Nursing Project, Gerontological Society of America, San Diego, CA
Joel Reaser, Diane Spokus, Harvey Sterns, William Rothwell. Current Perspectives in Working with Adult and Older Workers, Gerontological Society of America Conference, San Francisco, California 2007.
Manuscript Reviews
Levinthal, CharlesF. (2008). Drugs, Behavior and Modern Society (4th ed.)
Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Reviewed manuscript for Publishers Allyn & Bacon.
Bailey, Scott & Grover, Cathy, (2007). Drugs, Brain, and Behavior,
Reviewed for publishers Wiley - Blackwell Publishing.
Levinthal, Charles F. (2005). Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society (4th
ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Reviewed manuscript for Publishers Allyn & Bacon.