About Us

Biographical Information

Christopher M. Kelly received his Ph.D. in Gerontology at the University of Southern California and completed an NIA postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Kelly is the Leo Missinne Professor in Gerontology and Graduate Program Chair in the Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His research explores long-term regulation, indicators of quality of care in nursing homes and assisted living, long-term care alternatives at the state and local levels such as home and community-based services, and issues affecting the direct care workforce such as training. His research has also included aging inmates, rural and minority caregiving, end-of-life decision-making, rural transportation, and age-friendly communities.

Teaching Interests

Gerontology, public policy, aging theory

Research and Creative Interests

Aging policy, long-term care, home and community-based services

Service

Service to the Community

First, in my ten years of service at UNO, I have provided consultaton to policymakers and program administrators in aging at the state and local levels, including the State Legislature's Aging Task Force, the Nebraska Legislative Planning Committee, the Nebraska State Unit on Aging (SUA) and Nebraska's Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), on several initiatives (e.g., home health, personal care, other home and community-based services such as care management, senior centers, nutrition, transportation, and information and assistance), and Nebraska's Alzheimer's state plan. Other examples of service to older adults statewide include my ongoing participation in the Public Transportation Coalition and in the Aging Legislative Coalition, and the Southeast Nebraska Respite Network. In addition, I have made presentations to statewide meetings of service providers, such as the Nebraska Health Care Association, LeadingAge Nebraska, the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association, and the Elder Rights Coalition.

Service to the University

I currently serve as Graduate Program Chair (GPC) in the Department of Gerontology, as GPC, I supervise the Program of Study for nearly 100 Master's and Graduate Certificate students in the program. I also advise PhD students in our program, in particular, chairing the dissertation committees of four PhD candidates (also described in the Teaching section). I actively recruit students to the above graduate programs. I have also served on committees in the Department (e.g., the Workload Committee, which I chair) and in the College (e.g., the Personnel Committee, which I chaired during the 2014-5 and 2015-6 academic years).

Service to the Profession

I currently serve as Treasurer for the Southern Gerontological Society (SGS), on the SGS Publications Committee, and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Applied Gerontology. I am also an active member of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). I have served as an abstract reviewer for GSA’s Annual Scientific Meeting, I have reviewed manuscripts for multiple publications (e.g., the Journal of Applied Social Gerontology; the Journal of Aging & Social Policy, and Death Studies), and I have reviewed grant applications for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Education

Ph D - Gerontology
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California) 2004

BA - English
University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, Indiana) 1994

Honors

Outstanding Teaching Award (Teaching) 2017

Applied Gerontologist Award (Scholarship/Research) 2017

Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students (Teaching) 2013

Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students (Teaching) 2010

James G. Zimmer New Investigator Research Award (Scholarship/Research) 2005