Ruth E. Dunkle

Wilbur J. Cohen Collegiate Professor Emerita of Social Work

Professor Ruth Dunkle's research, teaching, and clinical practice focus on gerontology. Recent research projects include "Mothers of Adult Daughters with a Serious Mental Illness: The Experience of African Americans and Whites" and "An Historical Perspective of Social Service Delivery in Detroit in the Twentieth Century." Since 1988, Professor Dunkle has served as a project co-director of the National Institute on Aging training program, "Social Research Training on Applied Issues of Aging," with Professor Berit Ingersoll-Dayton. She also serves as co-director of the Geriatric Fellowship Program with Letha Chadiha. Professor Dunkle recently wrote a book on the oldest old, which examines their future time perspectives and their coping strategies in dealing with the changes in their physical and psychological functioning, and which identifies relevant service delivery strategies for improving the quality of their lives.

Research Interests

Clinical gerontology, service delivery to the elderly, the oldest old, coping and service deliver strategies for the elderly, racial and ethnic variations in caregiving to the elderly.

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

  • [email protected]

  • (734) 763-6575

  • 4668 SSWB
    University of Michigan
    School of Social Work
    1080 S. University
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Education

  • 1978 PhD Social Science
    Syracuse University, NY
  • 1973 MSW Direct Service/ Aging
    Syracuse University, NY
  • 1969 BS Social Science
    Syracuse University, NY

News

Activities

Publications

Xiang, X., Kayser, J., Ash, S., Zheng, C., Halavanau, A., Sun, Y., Xue, J., Weaver, A., Dunkle, R., Blackburn, J., & Himle, J. (2023). Web-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression among older adults: Development and usability study. JMIR Aging.
Cho, J., Dunkle, R. E., Pace. G., & Harlow-Rosentraub K. S. (2022). Altruism sustains the village model: How motivations to join a village for older adults predict long-term membership. Journal of Gerontological Social Work 1-7.
Dunkle, R. E., Cavagnini, K., Cho, J., Sutherland, L., Kales, H., Connell, C., & Leggett, A. (2022). Exploring dementia care in acute care settings: Perspectives of nurses and social workers on caring for patients with behavioral an psychological symptoms. Social Work in Health Care, 61(3), 169-183.
Xiang X., Lai P., Bao L., Sun Y., Chen J., Dunkle R., & Maust D. (2020). Dual trajectories of social isolation and dementia in older adults: A population-based longitudinal study. Journal of Aging and Health, 33(1-2), 63-74.
Park, S. Smith, J., Dunkle, R. E., Antonucci, T. C., & Ingersoll-Dayton, B. (2019). Health and social-physical environment profiles among older adults living alone: Associations with depressive symptoms. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 74(4), 675-684.
Zhang, A., Kong, D., Jiang, L., Sun, F., Dunkle, R., & Liu, C. (2019). Understanding the effectiveness of psychosocial services for anxiety and depression in chinese older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. The Gerontologist.
Leggett, A. N., Connell, C., Dubin, L., Dunkle, R., Langa, K. M., Maust, D. T., Roberts, J. S., Spencer, E. & Kales, H. C. (2019). Dementia across a tertiary-care health system: What exists now and what needs to change. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.
Dunkle, R., Perone, A. K., & Dennis, M. K. (2017). Social Work. In J. B. Halter, J. G. Ouslander, S. Studenski, K. P. High, S. Asthana, M. A. Supiano, C. Ritchie, & W. R. Hazzard (Eds.), Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology (7th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
Kim, M. H., Dunkle, R. E., Lehning, A. J., Shen, H. W., Feld, S., & Perone, A. K. (2016). Caregiver stressors and depressive symptoms among older husbands and wives in the United States. Journal of Women and Aging.
Cothran,F., Farran, Barnes, L., Whall, A.,Redman, R. Struble, L. ,Dunkle, R., & Fogg, L. (2015). Demographic and socio-environmental characteristics of black and white community-dwelling caregivers and care recipients; behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 8(4), 179-87.

Honors and Awards

Year Description
2020 SSWR Fellow
2018 Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work with a Career Achievement Award
2010 Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan.
2007 Distinguished Faculty Award, School of Social Work, University of Michigan.
2006 Anthony DeVito Geriatric Training Fellowship, The University of Michigan Geriatrics Center
2005-2006 Mothers of Adult Daughters with a Serious Mental Illness: The Experience of African Americans and Whites, IRWG, $4195
2004-2006 Grandmothers in a Three Generation Family: Making Plans for the Future OVPR, $10,000
2003 Wilbur J. Cohen Collegiate Professorship, University of Michigan School of Social Work
2002 Wilbur J. Cohen Collegiate Professorship, University of Michigan School of Social Work, 2003 Acceptable Clients in 20th Century Detroit, Summer Partnership, Rackham Graduate School, ($6,000)
2001-2003 Practice Competence in Racially and Ethically Focused Gerontological Social Work, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, the University of Michigan, ($6,000)
2001 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, Syracuse University, School of Social Work
1997 Career Development Award, University of Michigan
1984 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University
1980 AoA Stipend, Institute for Social and Political Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
1975-1976 NIA Trainee Fellowship
1972-1974 HHS Trainee Fellowship
1972-1974 AoA Training Grant, Graduate School.

Presentations

Year Description
2015 Dunkle, R. E. & Wiener, R. (2015, March). How do you know it works? Evaluating forward and backward. Presented at the American Society on Aging Annual Aging in America Conference, Chicago, IL.
2015 Robinson, J., Dunkle, R., & Carney, B. (2015). The village model of community living for older adults. Michigan Council of Villages, Lansing, MI.
2015 Feld, S., Dunkle, R., Shen, H., Perone, A., & Kim, M. (2015). The effects of husbands and wives stopping spousal caregiving on their depressive symptoms. The Gerontological Society of America.
2015 Park, S., Lehning, A. J., Dunkle, R., Kim, K., (2015). Differential aging-in-place of vulnerable elders low-income senior housing residents. The Gerontological Society of America.
2015 Lehning, A. J., Kim, K., Park, S., & Dunkle, R. (2015). Expectation to age in place in low-income senior housing: The role of push factors. The Gerontological Society of America.

Courses

Past Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Geriatric Integrative Seminar Spencer, Beth Fall 2016 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Geriatric Integrative Seminar Spencer, Beth Fall 2015 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Geriatric Integrative Seminar Spencer, Beth Fall 2014 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Geriatric Integrative Seminar Spencer, Beth Fall 2013 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Geriatric Integrative Seminar Spencer, Beth Fall 2012 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Independent Studies: Aging in Families and Society Fall 2011 114 12:00 am 12:00 am View Course
Directed Reading in Social Work and Social Science Fall 2011 114 12:00 am 12:00 am View Course
Independent Studies: Aging in Families and Society Fall 2011 114 12:00 am 12:00 am View Course
Dissertation/Candidacy Fall 2011 114 12:00 am 12:00 am View Course
Directed Reading in Social Work and Social Science Fall 2011 114 12:00 am 12:00 am View Course