Gerontology Faculty
Dr. Kathleen O'Rourke
Professor
Office: 2010 - Klehm Hall
Phone: 217-581-6350
Email: kaorourke@eiu.edu
Kathleen O'Rourke's Vita
Introduction:
Dr. O'Rourke has been a faculty member in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Eastern Illinois University since 2001. She serves as the Family Services Program Area Coordinator. Dr. O'Rourke teaches Research Methods, Readings in Human Development, Administration and Supervision in Family and Consumer Sciences, Aging and the Family, The Family in Crisis, The Family in Social Change, Family Resource Management, Women in Contemporary Society, Family Perspectives, and Foundations in Family and Consumer Sciences. She serves as a faculty chapter co-advisor of Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society at EIU. Dr. O'Rourke is a member of the Multidisciplinary Gerontology Faculty Committee and the Women's Studies Faculty at EIU. At the national level, Dr. O'Rourke is the Executive Board President of Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society.
From 1999-2001, Dr. O'Rourke was the Director of the Early Childhood PreK-Grade 4 Teacher Licensure Program and a faculty member in the Department of Child and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. From 1996-2001, she was an adjunct instructor in the Division of Family and Consumer Sciences at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. From 1996-1999, Dr. O'Rourke was employed by St. Mary's Hospital (currently known as Tennova Healthcare) as a Geriatric Case Manager for the Employee Assistance Program and a Geriatric Consultant specializing in grant writing for Senior and Community Services. While at St. Mary's, she coordinated intergenerational programming for the Alzheimer's day program and child care center and also worked with the senior outreach and education program, senior fitness program, senior transportation program, and assisted living program.
Summer 2013 Office Hours:
Tuesday 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Thursday 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Summer 2013 Class Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
1:30-4:05 p.m.
May 13-June 6, 2013
Family Perspectives (FCS 2000)
Online
The Family in Crisis (FCS 4845)
May 13-June 6, 2013
Education
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Ph.D. Child and Family Studies 1999
Specialization/Minor: Gerontology
Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
M.S. Home Economics-Human Development and Family Life 1995
Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
B.S. Home Economics-Family Services 1994.
Professional Organizations
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
http://www.aafcs.org
-Past Ethics Sub-Committee Member
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
-EIU Colleges Against Cancer Faculty Adviser
Illinois Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
http://ilafcs.org/
Illinois Council on Family Relations
http://il.ncfr.org/
-Past President
-Past Conference Program Chair
Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society
http://www.kon.org
-President of National Executive Board
-Past Second Vice Chair of National Executive Board
-EIU Kappa Alpha Theta Chapter Faculty Adviser
-Past President of EIU Kappa Alpha Theta Chapter
-Past Vice President of EIU Kappa Alpha Theta Chapter
National Council on Family Relations
http://www.ncfr.org
-Past Treasurer of Family Health Section
Research
- Disclosure, reporting, and support related to sexual assault among college-aged women
- Benefits of intergenerational relationships between older adults with dementia and young children
- Predictors of quality in grandparent-grandchild relationships
- Portrayal of older adults in children's literature
- Types and quality of support and resources for caregivers of older adults with dementia
- Indicators of developmentally appropriate practice and activities for infants through 5-year old children
- Environmental organization in programs for older adults and young children
- Individual and family resiliency related to conflict and crisis
