Master of Science in Gerontology

Faculty

Ellen Birchander
Ellen Birchander, Co-Director, Management of Aging Services Track, previously served as Assistant Secretary for Programs at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. She has worked in the areas of development of community supports and care management for elders. She received a BA from Simmons College, an MSW from Boston College, and an MS from Tufts University.
Jeffrey Burr
Jeffrey Burr is Professor of Gerontology and Director of the Ph.D. Program in Gerontology. His specialty areas include sociology of aging, demography of aging, and research methods. He has a B.A. from Texas Tech University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Lillian Glickman
Lillian Glickman, Co-Director, Management of Aging Services Track, was formerly Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Prior to that, she served as Assistant Secretary for many years and has expertise in development, implementation, and management of community-based services for elders. She received her AB degree from Harvard and an MSW and PhD from the Heller School at Brandeis University.
K.R. Kaffenberger
K.R. Kaffenberger is an instructor with experience in health planning and long-term care administration. He is a licensed nursing home administrator. Dr. Kaffenberger has a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, a Master’s degree in Public Management from Boston State University, A Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina, and a PhD in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Pamela Nadash
Pamela Nadash is an Assistant Professor of Gerontology. Her work centers on long term care policy. In particular, she investigates policies that enable people with long term care needs to live in the community including models such as managed long term care and consumer-directed services. Prior positions including working as an consultant to the federal government on long term care issues and working at the Center for Home Care Policy and Research and for the National Council on Aging. She has a BA from Bryn Mawr College, a Master’s from Oxford University, and a PhD from Columbia University.
Daniel J. O’Leary
Daniel J. O’Leary is Executive Director of Mystic Valley Elder Services, Inc. and has held a variety of senior-level positions in the Massachusetts aging services network since 1975. He was appointed to the Governor’s Special Commission of Long Term Care Services in Massachusetts, was past President of the Massachusetts Home Care Association, was a former Board committee member of the national Alzheimer’s Association, and currently serves as President of Lifetime Care Solutions, Inc. He received his MA from the University of Florida and a BA from the University of New Hampshire.
Lori A. Richardson
Lori A. Richardson is the Chief Financial Officer at Montachusett Home Care Corporation in Leominster, Massachusetts. Montachusett Home Care’s mission is to maximize the independence and self-determination of elders. Lori has a BS degree in management from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, an MBA from Nichols College, and an Advanced Graduate Degree in Business from Anna Maria College.
Patricia Rivard
Patricia Rivard is an instructor with extensive experience in the field of aging. She is a senior research leader for Medstat, working with states on quality improvement activities. Ms. Rivard is also the Massachusetts Project Coordinator for the Elimination of Barriers SAMHSA Project, working with the Mass Association of Older Americans and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health on an elder-focused antistigma campaign. She holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts.
Kiran Verma
Kiran Verma is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting and Finance in the School of Management. Her areas of expertise include healthcare financial management and managerial accounting systems in profit and not for profit organizations. She has a PhD from Michigan State University.