Cheri Krueckeberg, MDiv, MSW, ACSW
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Director of Gerontology Program

Cheri currently teaches in the Social Work Program and has worked for over 25 years in human services, including the following work with elders:

• Involvement with S.U.S.I. (Seniors United for Social Improvement) on the south side of Chicago
• Director of a family shelter in Chicago which often served elders
• Assessment and counseling of elders in inpatient psychiatric unit after suicide attempts
• Counseling elders with chronic or terminal illness, and their families
• Leading reminiscence groups for older women
• Work with grandparents who were primary caregivers for their grandchildren
• Involvement in service organizations peopled primarily by elders
  

Cheri’s special interests in working with older adults include: brain health; finding effective interventions with elders who suffer from depression; spirituality and aging, reminiscence and life review therapy; advocacy for elders of color and older women, intergenerational relationships; health care reform. She is Director of the Gerontology Program at Manchester College, teaching both Social Gerontology and Advanced Gerontology.

Kim Duchane, PhD, CAPE

Associate Professor of Exercise and Sport Sciences
Director of Adapted Physical Education
Manchester College
Phone (260) 982-5382

Dr. Duchane’s training in adapted physical activity connects with the changing abilities of older adults.  He and his students learn about and have been actively involved in many intergenerational service-learning projects including leading Tai Chi exercises at an area retirement community, interviewing senior athletes on their sport expertise, testing flexibility in older adults, and administering the Arena Walkers Fitness Walking program.  Kim is an associate professor of exercise and sport sciences, coordinates the adapted physical education teacher training program, and regularly discusses issues on aging in his courses.

Scott Strode
Chair of Department of Communication Studies
Director of Theatre
Manchester College

Scott serves on the Gerontology Council of Manchester College.  He teaches Creative Dramatics to education majors. In this course, he provides a unit on involving senior citizens in creative dramatics activities and he encourages students to consider opportunities in the field of gerontology. He has presented a creative dramatics workshop at the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education annual conference. He has led senior citizens in creative dramatics activities. His play “Take Me With You” won honorable mention in the Eileen Heckart Drama for Seniors Competition.

Lana Groombridge, MSc, EdD

Lana currently teaches and is the Chair of the Exercise and Sport Sciences department Gerontology Website Info and has worked over 30 years preparing future teachers and introducing students to the fun of leading exercises for older adults.  Her class, Aging: Health and Wellness, has been instrumental in attracting many exercise science majors to minor in gerontology and in preparing exercise leaders for the elderly.

Lana’s dissertation focused on strength training for older adults and she has conducted several classes at Timbercrest Living Community to teach residents methods of increasing strength.  She initiated the 65 Alive Strength and Fitness program for adults over 65 who come to Manchester College’s campus three times a week for aerobic and strength training under the supervision of a qualified leader.  

She has completed over twenty presentations related to older adults and exercise at the local, regional, state, national, and international levels.  Lana is an advocate of personal fitness for all persons and especially interested in developing strength in older adults to increase their quality of life.