General Information
Additional Contact Information
njkelley@unomaha.edu402.554.4886
Biography
Nancy Kelley has been a Professor with the Grace Abbott School of Social Work (GASSW) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) since 2005. She also holds a courtesy faculty position with UNO’s Department of Gerontology. She received her PhD in Social Work with a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Utah, MSW from The University of Chicago, BSW (with a minor in Developmental Psychology) from Moorhead State University, and AA in Developmental Disabilities and Certificate in Developmental Disabilities from Minot State University. Dr. Kelley's professional background has been primarily in the fields of aging and developmental disabilities. Her career encompasses the scholarship of engagement through education, research, and service in academia as well as the gamut of advisory/consultative, executive administration, managerial, coordinating and supervisory, case management, and direct service. Her primary interest areas in research, practice, and policy include: quality of care/quality of life of older and disabled adults; family and non-relative caregiving throughout the lifespan across the continuum of care; mental/behavioral health across the lifespan; and intergenerational relationships. Some specific areas of interest involve grandparents raising grandchildren, aging parents of adult children with disabilities, and the impact of volunteers in nursing homes.
Teaching Interests
Dr. Kelley teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses at UNO. Courses she has taught include: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II; Social Work Practice with Older Adults; Advanced Community Practice; Supervision and Personnel Administration; and Planning for Social Change (aka Social Welfare Planning). She has been actively involved in building and sustaining gerontological social work education at UNO over many years, initially through CSWE and John A. Hartford Foundation grant funding for curriculum infusion and practicum development. These efforts led to the GASSW's receipt of the 2009 Anita Rosen Award for Best Practices in Gerontological Curriculum Infusion; GASSW was one of three schools of social work nationally that was competitively selected for this inaugural award. She has also been highly involved in service-learning, including receiving the inaugural UNO Service Learning Academy Faculty Fellowship Program Award in 2014-2015. During her tenure at UNO, she has been involved in multiple projects with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), including the Nebraska Geriatric Education Center. In 2020, she was inducted into UNMC's Interprofessional Academy of Educators as an Affiliate Member. She is a member of AGE-SW (Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work) and AGHE (Association for Gerontology in Higher Education).
Research Interests
Dr. Kelley's primary interest areas in research, practice, and policy include: quality of care/quality of life of older and disabled adults; family and non-relative caregiving throughout the lifespan and across the continuum of care; mental/behavioral health across the lifespan; and intergenerational relationships. Some specific areas of interest involve grandparents raising grandchildren, aging parents of adult children with disabilities, and the impact of volunteers in nursing homes. Recent publications and media contributions include:Kelley, N. (September, 2020). “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and COVID-19.” Generations Today, bimonthly newspaper of the American Society on Aging. https://generations.asaging.org/grandparents-raising-grandchildren-covid-19 Kelley, N. (May, 2020). NET—Nebraska’s PBS and NPR stations. “Class of 2020: Moving Forward.” A 30-minute broadcast on NET television and Facebook livestream. One of four panelists discussing mental health and transition-aged youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/outreach/class-2020-moving-forward Falkowski, P. P., Kelly, C. M., and Kelley, N. J. (Under Review). Volunteer impact on nursing home quality measures: Do volunteers make a difference? Kelley, N. (2019). Teen Connect: A new twist on an old idea to bridge generations. Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices, 3(1:135), 1-7. doi: https://doi.org/10.33790/jphip1100135.Masters, J. M., Toller, P. M., Kelley, N. J., and Holley, L. M. (2018). Begin with the end in mind: A three-part workshop series to facilitate end-of-life discussions with members of the community. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 1-17; DOI: 10.1080/02701960.2018.1446005.Kelley, N. and Rolf, K. (2016). Sharing our stories for ourselves, our families, and our fellow future grandparents: A synthesis. Summary report to agency partner (Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging Grandparent Resource Center) regarding a UCRCA Mini-grant project.
Service Summary
Dr. Kelley’s interests to the profession, community, University, College, and School are evident through her active involvement with many entities and activities. She is a reviewer for several scholarly journals in aging and social work (e.g., Advances in Social Work; Journal of Gerontological Social Work; Journal of Social Work Education; Research on Aging; Applied Research in Quality of Life; Journal of Applied Gerontology) and serves on two Editorial Boards (e.g., The Gerontologist; Journal of Public Health issues and Practices). She has reviewed grant and conference proposals for several national organizations (e.g., AGHE, CSWE, GSA, and ASA). She is a member of many professional organizations, including NASW, CSWE, GSA, and ASA and their respective subgroups--NASW Aging Specialty Practice Section; GSA Qualitative Research Interest Group, GSA Long-term Services and Supports Interest Group, GSA Assisted Living Interest Group, GSA Lifelong Disabilities Interest Group, and GSA Mental Health and Aging Interest Group. Dr. Kelley is a co-founder and organizer of the biennial Aging with Passion & Purpose Conference at UNO and has helped coordinate campus events for the annual national Careers in Aging Week. Dr. Kelley is highly engaged in community aging activities as well, such as, consulting with local and national organizations (e.g., Bloom Companion Care; Nebraska Humanities Council; CHAMPS; PWSA; Neighbors Helping Neighbors; Council on Social Work Education Gero-Ed Center). She serves on several Boards of Directors and Councils for local human service organizations, including holding officer positions (e.g., Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare Advisory Council; NAMI-NE, Vice President, Past President, Past Secretary; HELP Adult Services, Secretary; Nebraska Family Support Network, Secretary). She is a co-founder the Nebraska Mental Health and Aging Coalition (NeMHAC), which is the first statewide coalition to address the needs of older adults with SPMI diagnoses who are in need of long-term care placements. Dr. Kelley has served on UNO’s Faculty Senate, Academic Freedom & Tenure Committee, UCRCA Committee (Chair), GRACA Committee, and Professional Conduct Committee. She also serves on the CPACS Personnel Committee and the GASSW Curriculum Committee (Chair), Personnel Committee, RPT Committee (Chair), and Program Committee. She served as the MSW Coordinator from 2012-2015.
Awards and Honors
Equity and Inclusion Certificate Program, Leadership - 2020
2020 Interprofessional Academy of Educators Affiliate Member, Teaching - 2020
NAMI-Nebraska Advocate of the Year Award, Service, Community - 2017
Service Learning Academy Faculty Fellowship Program Award, Leadership - 2014
2009 Anita Rosen Award for Best Practices in Gerontological Curriculum Infusion, Teaching - 2009
Education
MSW, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Social Service Administration, Policy and Adminstration, 1998
MSW, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Social Service Administration, Policy and Adminstration, 1998
BSW, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN, Social Work, Minor in Developmental Psychology, 1991
AA, Minot State University, Minot, ND, Developmental Disabilities, Undergraduate Certificate in Developmental Disabilities, 1991
Scholarship/Research/Creative Activity
Selected Publications
Masters, Julie, Toller, Paige, Holley, Lyn, , Kelley. Begin with the end in mind: A tree-part series to facilitate end-of-life discussions.
Service
Department, College, and University
Academic Freedom and Tenure, Committee Member, 10/01/2017 - 10/31/2017
Professional
The Gerontologist, Editorial Review Board Member, Editorial Board Member and Reviewer. The Gerontologist. 2007-Present., 01/01/2007 - 12/31/2007
Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices, Editorial Review Board Member, Editorial Board Member and Reviewer. Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices. 2017-Present., 07/01/2017 - 07/31/2017
Community
HELP Adult Services, Board Member, 01/01/2013 - 01/31/2013
National Alliance on Mental Illness--Nebraska Chapter, Officer, President/Elect/Past, 10/01/2011 - 10/31/2011
Nebraska Family Support Network, Officer, Secretary, 07/01/2012 - 07/31/2012
Consulting
For Profit Organization, Omaha, NE, 04/01/2015 - 08/01/2016
Academic, 01/01/2012 - 12/01/2016
Administrative Assignments
Other, MSW Coordinator, 08/01/2012 - 05/31/2015