Resume

• 2016

  Western Oregon University

  Monmouth

  OR

  http://www.wou.edu/behavioralsciences/profile/dr-melissa-cannon/

  Assistant Professor of Gerontology

  Western Oregon University

  Since finishing my doctorate

  I taught a University Studies course for Sophomores in Community Studies and co-taught an Urban Studies course for undergraduate and graduate students. This fall I am teaching two sections of PHE 250: \"Our Community

  Our Health

  \" a sophomore course for the School of Community Health. I am also focusing on networking

  writing

  and conference presentations as I take the next steps toward launching a career.

  Portland State University

  Gerontological Society of America

  Member

  Board Member

  Oregon Gerontological Association

• 2010

  Well Arts Institute

  Grand Works Northwest Arts Festival

  Volunteer/Meal Delivery

  Meals On Wheels

  Volunteer Management

  Community Development

  Academic Writing

  SPSS

  Qualitative Research

  Teaching

  Training

  Grant Writing

  University Teaching

  Community Outreach

  Event Planning

  Higher Education

  Editing

  Research

  Leadership

  Grants

  An argument for male gender as a root cause or fundamental social determinant of health.

  Lipsky

  M.

• 2009

  Portland State University Office of University Relations

  Institute on Aging at Portland State University

  Portland State University

  Following two years of working as a part-time office assistant for Portland State's President's Office and Development Office

  I moved with the Development Office to a new building where it was renamed the Office of University Relations. I worked full time over the summer as Office Coordinator

  primarily completing reception duties

  processing forms

  ordering supplies

  managing inter-departmental requests and training the replacement who took over my position that fall.

  Office Coordinator

  Portland

  Oregon Area

  Portland State University Office of University Relations

  Graduate Certificate

  Gerontology

  Portland State University

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  Urban Studies

  Student Representatives

  Urban Studies and Planning

  Portland State University

• 2008

  Portland State University ROOTS Festival

  Board Member/Secretary/Land Use Member

  Sullivan's Gulch Neighborhood Association

• 2007

  Interests: \nCommunities and older populations; aging in place; community development to create inclusive

  age-friendly cities and communities for people across the life course; innovative programs that support healthy aging and improve quality of care among older adults.\n\nDissertation research: \nExamined the factors that influence challenges and successes for senior centers in an urban area as senior centers throughout the U.S. are re-positioning to continue their long history of providing services

  activities

  recreation

  socialization for community dwelling older adults.\n\nProjects: \nSince completing my Urban Studies Ph.D. in Spring 2015

  I have been teaching community health and urban studies courses and will continue teaching gerontology in higher education. \n\n

  Melissa

  Cannon

  Portland State University's President's Office

  Marten Law

  While taking classes full time

  I was a student worker at Portland State's President's Office. I completed tasks for the President's Office and the Development Office that included

  as examples: general reception; data entry and management; running errands; processing forms; ordering supplies; training new student workers and the new full-time receptionist.

  Student Worker

  Portland

  Oregon Area

  Portland State University's President's Office

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

  Summa Cum Laude

  Community Development

  Housing and Economic Development Concentration

  Portland State University

  Quantitative Data Analysis II

  Global Aging and Health: Nicaragua

  Sociology & Politics of Urban Life

  History & Theory of Urban Studies

  Research Design

  Bicycle & Pedestrian Planning

  Green Economics & Sustainable Development

  Qualitative Analysis

  Quantitative Data Analysis

  Gerontology Graduate Certificate

  Portland State University

• 2006

  Americorps: National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)

  Downtown Portland

  Over the two years of employment (while working on my dissertation)

  I worked at the reception desk at Marten Law's Portland branch

  at which the only staff included myself and the paralegal. In addition to general reception

  I managed attorney's Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credits/tracking; performed operational duties for office

  including filling in for the paralegal; and trained and developed an Office Assistant manual for my successor.

  Office Assistant/Coordinator

  Marten Law

  Key activities: \nWorked on a diverse team of eleven people serving communities across the southeast region of the United States in the areas of disaster relief

  unmet human needs

  environmental protection

  and education; led groups of volunteers on construction sites in Gulfport

  MS and Albany

  GA; worked as Assistant Team Leader for nine week construction project in Albany

  GA; worked as Media Representative to write and send out press releases and generate media coverage for the team on each project; became certified in American Red Cross CPR and AED

  First Aid

  and Disaster Relief.

  Corps Member

  Charleston

  South Carolina Area

  Americorps: National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)

  Most of my time as a doctoral student in Urban Studies

  I worked as a graduate research assistant at the Institute on Aging at Portland State University. My research areas include(d) community development and gerontology

  specifically focusing on strategies for creating inclusive

  age-friendly cities and communities by fostering physical and social environments that support people of all ages and abilities.

  Graduate Research Assistant

  Portland

  Oregon Area

  Institute on Aging at Portland State University

• 2004

  Associate of Arts (AA)

  Front Range Community College

• 60

  Lutfiyya

  M.N.

  Disease a Month

  145-149.

  An argument for male gender as a root cause or fundamental social determinant of health.

  Neal

  M. B.

  Hammer

  L. B.

  Pines

  M. A.

  Bodner

  T. E.

  R. Burke

  J. Field

  & C. Cooper (Eds). Handbook on Aging

  Work & Society. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

  Working caregivers in the “Sandwiched Generation.”

  Lutfiyya

  M.N.

  Disease a Month

  138-144.

  Gender and health disparities: The case of male gender.

  A growing body of research emphasizes the development of an understanding of the relationship between older adults and their physical and social environments (Wahl & Weisman

  2003). Researchers

  planners

  policymakers

  and community residents have been increasingly interested in shaping urban environments as places that foster active aging and independence among older adults. Senior centers have served a critical role in their communities as focal points for older adults

  as individuals or in groups

  to participate in services and activities that support their independence and encourage their involvement in and with the community (NCOA

  1979). The aging of the population and influx of baby boomers into the older demographic

  along with declines in participation rates and funding

  are challenging senior center staff to be innovative and adaptive in order to demonstrate senior centers’ relevance to future older adults while maintaining the programming and services for their current participants. This research is a multiple-case study of five unique senior centers located throughout the Portland metropolitan area in Oregon. Different types and models of senior centers are represented by the selected cases

  as they operate under different governance structures and vary in aspects such as administration

  funding

  participant characteristics

  community partnerships

  transportation options

  physical environments

  and range of services and programs offered. This study aims to better understand challenges

  strengths

  and future directions for different types of senior centers serving a metropolitan area. Data collection at each site included interviews with staff as well as focus groups with senior center participants. Interviews with key informants enriched the findings and provided outside perspectives of senior center experiences. Data analysis revealed challenges and strengths that were common across and unique to the different senior centers in this study. This resear

  Challenges

  Experiences

  and Future Directions of Senior Centers Serving the Portland Metropolitan Area

• Dr. Melissa Cannon ~ Behavioral Sciences

  Assistant Professor

  Gerontology Department 503-838-8512 | cannonm@wou.edu | Todd Hall

  Room 333 At Western Oregon Since: 2016 Doctorate (Ph.D.)

  Urban Studies. Field Areas: Community Development and Gerontology. Portland State University

  Portland

  OR. Dissertation Title: Challenges

  Experiences

  and Future Directions of Senior Centers Serving the Portland Metropolitan Area. Fall 2009 - Spring 2015.

  Urban Studies and Planning

  PSU

  Coordinator: Gerontology Association of Portland State University

  Portland State University