Faculty and Staff Listing
Dr. Linda Simpson, Professor
Office: 2425 - Klehm Hall
Fax: 217-581-6090
Email: ldsimpson@eiu.edu
Website: https://www.eiu.edu/finlit/
Linda Simpson's Vita
Dr. Linda Simpson, Ph.D., CFCS, CPFFE has been a faculty member at EIU since 1997. Her subject matter expertise is in the areas of consumer studies, family resource management, and financial literacy. She has numerous publications and has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences on the topics of online teaching and learning, budgeting and debt management, and consumer behavior.
Frequently Taught Courses
Personal and Family Financial Literacy
Family Budgeting and Debt Management
Human Services Programs and Resource Management
See Financial Literacy Minor web site
See Financial Literacy Minor Requirements
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994
Master of Science, Eastern Illinois University at Charleston,1989
Bachelor of Science, Eastern Illinois University at Charleston,1984
Professional Organizations
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education
Research
Financial Literacy
Smart Home Devices and Independent Living
High Impact Learning Experiences
Selected Publications
Online Resources
Consumer’s Guide to Aging in Place: Smart Technology and Services
Adapted Consumer Guide for People with Disabilities
Care Provider’s Guide to Smart Devices and Services
Independent & Assisted Living Facilities Care Manager and Staff Guide
Independent & Assisted Living Facilities Administrator’s and Engineer’s Guide
All guides located at:
http://silcresearch.org/uploads/3/4/8/6/34865940/silcs_consumer_guide_to_aging_in_place.pdf
Developed an Online Self-Install Support Program (OSISP) for seniors and people with disabilities that enables them to live more independently through the use of smart devices and utility services. The videos provided step-by-step guidance on the installation and use of 11 smart devices. The videos can be reviewed at: https://smartselfreliance.org/installation/
Fall 2018 - Conducted research and wrote the guide Located at:
http://silcresearch.org/uploads/3/4/8/6/34865940/silcs_consumer_guide_to_aging_in_place.pdf
Simpson, L., O'Rourke, K., Rogers, W., Harris, M., & Newman, D. (2018). Consumer’s Guide to Smart Home Devices and Services. located at http://silcresearch.org/uploads/3/4/8/6/34865940/silcs_consumer_guide_to_aging_in_place.pdf
Served as a subject matter expert/content consultant for two textbooks (2018)
Earning, Saving, and Investing, Red Line Editorial
Making Smart Money Choices, Red Line Editorial
Brooks, L. & Simpson, L. (2014). Experiential learning in higher education: Implications for improving the employability of FCS graduates. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, (106)2. 16-21.
Huxel, C., Burns, M., O’Rourke, K., & Simpson, L. (2012). Comparison of Nutritive Value, Cost, Viscosity, and Acceptability among Developed Oral Nutritional Supplements and Commercially-Prepared Supplements. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 112(S9): A-57.
Simpson, L. Smith, R., Taylor, L, & Chad, J. (2012). College debt: An exploratory study of risk factors among college freshmen and its effect on college choice. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 42(1). 16-27.
Simpson, L., Taylor, L., O’Rourke, K., & Shaw, K. (2011). An analysis of consumer behavior on Black Friday. American International Journal of Contemporary Research. 1(1). Located at http://www.aijcrnet.com/index.php/current.
Selected Conference Presentations
Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Conference
College student’s financial wellness: The impact on individuals, families, and communities. 2017, San Diego, CA
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Annual Conference
Taking care of YOU!: Strategies for self-care, health, and well-being for the busy FCS professional. 2015, Jacksonville, FL
Financial literacy: Putting a plan in action. 2014, St.Louis, MO
Achieving tenure and promotion in higher education: Strategies for success Roundtable. 2014, St. Louis, MO
Faculty Summer Institute,University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
Innovative use of technology in research, 2013
WebCT 2.-0 Tools, 2010
Governor’s Conference on Aging Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
Older consumers: Navigating through the financial maze, 2013
The older consumer: Implications for marketers, retailers, and caregivers, 2011
Budget and Debt Management Workshops
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences webinar, 2011
Illinois Coalition for Community Services, 2011 Charleston, IL
Academy for Lifetime Learning, Eastern Illinois University, 2011
Strategic Goal Setting Initiatives Workshops
Academy of Lifetime Learning, Eastern Illinois University, 2011
Smart Women, Smart Money Conference, Springfield,IL, Sponsored by the Illinois StateTreasurer’s Office, 2011
Purdue University-Nutrition Education Programs,Turkey Run State Park, IN 2011
Illinois Consumer Education Association, Bloomington, IL
Compulsive buying behavior, 2011
College student loans: Factors related to knowledge and loan debt, 2011
Funding & Grants
Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation 2021, Principal Investigator
Led the successful process of funding a pilot student for the STEM program offered through the Mattoon, IL YMCA. Total Award Amount = $30,000
Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation, 2020
Title: Smart Home Automation for Independent Living. The12-month project provided persons with paralysis information about the benefits of smart devices and direct, in-home assistance in their installation, programming and use. The rationale for the project is that without this guidance and assistance, persons with paralysis will not benefit from smart home automation that could enhance their independence. Total Award Amount = $25,000
Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation 2020, Principal Investigator
Title: Smart Technology & Services Supporting Independent Living. The 12-month project supported funding to: 1) determine whether smart devices and smart grid services can improve the quality of life and affordability for seniors residing in independent and assisted living (I&AL) facilities and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), and the technical and operational requirements to accommodate their use, 2) provide older adults and people with disabilities information resources and technical assistance to enable their use of smart devices and utility smart grid pricing programs, with the intent of enhancing their ability to live more independently and affordably, and 3) development and pilot testing of a statewide Smart Technology Mentor Program (STMP) that matches older adults and people with disabilities with student mentors ready to assist them in setting up smart devices in their homes. Total Award Amount = $300,000
Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation 2019, Principal Investigator
Title: Illinois Smart Technologies Assisting Aging Residents. The 12-month project helped older adult homeowners (target audience) in their adoption of smart grid program offerings and smart home technologies to enable them to age better in place. The three major activities include: 1) Educational & Training Activities, 2) Outreach Activities, and 3) Development of Deployment Resources. Total Award Amount = $300,000
Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation 2018, Principal Investigator
Title: Illinois Seniors Smart-Home Initiative: Information Resources, Training & Outreach. The 12-month project sought to accelerate senior consumer participation in utility smart grid programs and use of smart grid-enabled home energy management (HEM) devices in their homes. Total Award Amount = $300,000.
Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation 2017
Title: Smart Energy Consumer Independence Initiative. The purpose was to enhance the quality of life and independence of senior citizens and consumers with disabilities
Total Award Amount = $200,00.
TIAA-CREF and National Council on Graduate Studies, Principal Investigator
One of fifteen universities selected to receive a $40,000 to enhance college student’s financial literacy 2013-2015
Community
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children) of East Central Illinois
Board Member 2020-present. President-Elect and Fundraising Committee
President and Board Member of the Senior Independent Living Collaborative (SiLC).
Project initiatives are related to the use of smart home devices to support independent living for persons with disabilities and the older consumer. (2017-present)
Awards & Honors
2022 Achieved the Quality Online Course designation for HSL 2300G
2021 CHHS Hanner Teaching Excellent Award
2019 Mather Lifeways Innovation, Honorable Mention
Related to research project/grant associated with the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation.
2018 Rodney S. Ranes Graduate Faculty Mentor Award Nominee
2016 Family Economics and Resource Management Community Exceptional Education Program Award
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
This award recognized an individual or team who made a contribution to individuals, families and communities through exceptional educational programming in family economics and/or resource management.
2015 Distinguished Service Award from the EIU School of Continuing Education (awarded to the School of Family and Consumer Sciences when I served as Chair)
2015 Outstanding Leadership Award from the EIU Graduate School (co-winner with Lisa Moyer)
Achievement and Contribution Awards – Eastern Illinois University
2010-2011 Service category
2006-2007 Service category
2005-2006 Teaching category
2004-2005 Balanced category
2003-2004 Teaching category
2000-2001 Service category
1997-1998 Research category
2010 Rodney S. Ranes Graduate Faculty Mentor Award Nominee
Faculty Mentor (Thesis Advisor) – Master’s Thesis Award of Excellence in the Lumpkin, College Business and Applied Sciences, 2010
2010 EIU Graduate Showcase – Financial Health Education series was selected to be presented
Excellence in the Use of Technology Award, 2003, Eastern Illinois University
Recognition of Service to Technology Enhanced and Delivered Education, 2001, Eastern Illinois University
Outstanding Achievement in Technology Award, 2001 (First recipient of this award) School of Adult and Continuing Education, Eastern Illinois University
Recognition of Scholarly Achievement, 2001, Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, Eastern Illinois University
Outstanding Professor, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, 2000, Selected by the Dean’s Student Advisory Council
Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, Eastern Illinois University
Certifications
Certified Family and Consumer Sciences
Personal and Family Finance Educator
Quality Matters Online Course Reviewer
Certified Online Instructor
CAEL PriorLearning Assessment Certificate Program
