• A-Z Index
  • Find People
  • Student Resources
    • BACK
      • Academics
      • Academic Resources
      • Account Lookup
      • Student Resources
  • Faculty/Staff Resources
    • BACK
      • Faculty/Staff Resources
  • Calendars
    • BACK
      • Academic Calendars
      • Athletics
      • Campus Events
      • Class Schedules
      • Library and Media Services
  • Maps & Directions
    • BACK
      • Campus Map
      • Directions
      • Parking
      • Places to Stay
      • Transportation
  • Policies
    • BACK
      • WOU Policies
      • Table of Contents

  • Portal
  • Academics
  • Current Students
  • Employees
  • Give
  • Maps
  • Admission:
    • BACK
    • Admission
    • Apply
    • Get Info
    • Visit Us
Western Oregon University
search
  • Admission.
  • Cost
  • Academics
  • Life at WOU
  • Athletics
  • Give
  • Portal
  • search

Resources

Home » Faculty/Staff Information

Menu
  • A-Z Index
  • Find People
  • Student Resources
    • Back
      • Academics
      • Academic Resources
      • Account Lookup
      • Student Resources
  • Faculty/Staff Resources
    • Back
      • Faculty/Staff Resources
  • Calendars
    • Back
      • Academic Calendars
      • Athletics
      • Campus Events
      • Class Schedules
      • Library and Media Services
  • Maps & Directions
    • Back
      • Campus Map
      • Directions
      • Parking
      • Places to Stay
      • Transportation
  • Policies
    • Back
      • WOU Policies
      • Table of Contents

Faculty/Staff Information

Melissa Cannon

(She/Her/Hers)

Associate Professor, Gerontology: Aging and Older Adulthood

503-838-8512 | cannonm@wou.edu
TH 346

Personal Website

Why I chose WOU

I love the students, beautiful campus, and the collaborative nature of the work that we do!

At WOU since

09/16/2016

Hobbies

I enjoy cooking, reading, playing games, and being outside, especially my husband and with our dog, Wasco.

Fun fact

I also have a cat named George Michael.

Hometown

Berthoud, CO

Office Hours

MonTuesWedsThursFri
2:00 - 5:002:00 - 5:00   
Book a 30-minute appointment using this link: https://calend

Course schedule

Spring 2023
CRNCourseTitleTimesLocation
31033 GERO415 AGING OUR PHYSCL & SOCL ENVIRO T 1400-1550 BELL 110B
30080 GERO320 INTRODUCTION TO AGING M 1400-1550 BELL 237
31033 GERO415 AGING OUR PHYSCL & SOCL ENVIRO - HYBRD* CRS
30080 GERO320 INTRODUCTION TO AGING - HYBRD* CRS

Education

Doctorate (Ph.D.), Urban Studies. Field Areas: Community Development and Gerontology. Portland State University, Portland, OR. Dissertation Title: Challenges, Experiences, and Future Directions of Senior Centers Serving the Portland Metropolitan Area. Fall 2009 – Spring 2015.

Graduate Certificate, Gerontology. Portland State University. Fall 2009 – Winter 2013.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Community Development. Concentration: Housing and Economic Development. Portland State University. Fall 2007 – Winter 2009.

Associate of Arts (A.A.). Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO. Fall 2004 – Spring 2006.

Professional experience

Associate Professor. Western Oregon University, Department of Gerontology. Fall 2020.

Assistant Professor. Western Oregon University, Department of Gerontology. Fall 2016.

Instructor. Marylhurst University, Department of Human Sciences. Spring 2016.

Instructor. Portland State University, School of Community Health. Fall 2015 – Spring 2016.

Instructor. Portland State University, University Studies. Summer 2015, Winter 2016.

Project Coordinator. Portland State University, Institute on Aging. Oral Health America Wisdom Tooth Project: “Tooth Wisdom: Get Smart About Your Mouth.” Fall 2015.

Surveyor. MIG, Inc., Portland, OR. Tualitin Hills Parks and Recreation District Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. Summer 2015.

Instructor. Portland State University, Urban Studies and Planning. Summer 2015.
Office Coordinator. Marten Law, Portland, OR. June 2013 – June 2015.

Teaching Assistant. Portland State University, School of Community Health. Fall 2013 – Spring 2014.

Interviewer. Portland State University, School of Community Health. Multnomah County Adult Care Home Program Resident Satisfaction Survey 2013. Summer 2013.

Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant. Portland State University, Institute on Aging. Fall 2009 – Spring 2013.

Undergraduate courses taught

Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR

●     GERO 320 – Introduction to Aging; credits: 4 (in-person & hybrid)

●     GERO 420 – Global Aging; credits: 4 (in-person)

●     GERO 410W – Gerontology Practicum I; credits: 4 (hybrid)

●     GERO 415 –Aging in Our Physical & Social Environments; credits: 4 (in-person & hybrid)

●     GERO 460 – Housing & Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults; credits: 4 (in-person & hybrid)

●     GERO 480 – Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Management; credits: 4 (in-person & hybrid)

●     PSY 311 – Developmental Psychology; credits: 4 (in-person & online) 

●     PSY 483/583 – Adulthood & Aging; credits: 4 (in-person)

 

Current research

Environmental gerontology; age-friendliness; community health; home and community-based services; health disparities; service-learning; policies that create healthy, inclusive cities and communities for people across the life course; programs that support healthy aging and improve quality of care among older adults.

Publications and Presentations

Kerwood, R., Ramon (Kondash), M., Rowley, S., & Rubio (Wehr), H. Opportunities for a senior center and university to serve as third places and advance age-friendliness in their community. Faculty advisor: Cannon, M.L. PURE Insights.

Cannon, M.L., Perkinson, M.A., DeLaTorre, A.K., Martinez, I.L., Ozer, E., Sweatman, W.M., Browne, R., Claver, M.L., & Dobson, E. Service-learning through conference-based, interdisciplinary workshops on age-friendly design. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2019.1643337

Manoogian, M. & Cannon, M.L. (2018). Integrating student-focused career planning into an undergraduate gerontology curriculum. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2018.1457530

Cannon, M.L. (2017). Impacts of organizational ties for senior centers: Findings from a collective case study in Portland, Oregon. Journal of Aging Studies, 42, 9-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2017.06.002

Neal, M. B., Cannon, M., DeLaTorre, A.K., Bolkan, C., Wernher, I., Nolan, E., Norori, M.L., Largaespada-Fredersdorff, C., Brown Wilson, K. (2016). Addressing the needs of Nicaraguan older adults living on the edge: A university-community partnership in international service-learning. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 38(1), 119-138. DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2016.1259161

Cannon, M. (2015). What is aging? Disease a Month, 61(11), 454-459. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2015.09.002

Hasworth, S. & Cannon, M. (2015). Social theories of aging for health practitioners. Disease a Month, 61(11), 475-479. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2015.09.003

Lipsky, M., Cannon, M., & Lutfiyya, M.N. (2014). Gender and health disparities: The case of male gender. Disease a Month, 60(4), 138-144. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2014.02.001

Lutfiyya, M.N., Cannon, M., & Lipsky, M. (2014). An argument for male gender as a root cause or fundamental social determinant of health. Disease a Month, 60(4), 145-149. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2014.02.002

Neal, M. B., Hammer, L. B., Pines, M. A., Bodner, T. E., & Cannon, M. L. (2013). Working caregivers in the “Sandwiched Generation.” In R. Burke, J. Field, & C. Cooper (Eds). Handbook on Aging, Work & Society. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

Cannon, M. (2010). “Leather” (Chapter 14) in Heying, C., Brew to Bikes: Portland’s Artisan Economy. Portland, OR: Ooligan Press.

Cannon, M. (2009). Portland’s artisan economy: The arts and crafts sector. PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal, 3(1), article 15. DOI: 10.15760/mcnair.2009.56

Student presentations

Cannon, M.L., Kerwood, R., Ramon, M., Rowley, S., & Rubio, H. (2019, November). Laying the groundwork for becoming an Age-Friendly University: A multi-phase study. Poster presentation at the at the 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Austin, TX.  

Kerwood, R., Rowley, S., Kondash, M., Wehr, H., & Cannon, M (Mentor). (2019, May). Opportunities for partnership between a senior center and university to create a more age-friendly community. Student presentation at the 14th Annual Academic Excellence Showcase, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR.

Cannon, M.L., Johnston, R. Kerwood, R., Kondash, M., & Wehr, H. (2018, November). Opportunities for partnership between a senior center and university to create a more age-friendly community. Poster presentation at the at the 70th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.

Johnston, R., Kerwood, R., Wehr, H., & Cannon, M (Mentor). (2018, May). Older adults’ attitudes and decisions toward using a college campus and a senior center as a third place. Student presentation at the 13th Annual Academic Excellence Showcase, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR.

Professional memberships

Board Member; Education Committee. Oregon Gerontological Association (current)

Co-Convener. Environmental Gerontology Interest Group. Gerontological Society of America (GSA) (2018–current)

Member, Age-Friendly Design Committee. Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) (2016–current) 

Member, Publications & Resources. Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) (2016–2018)

Member, Publications Committee (AGHE Representative). Gerontological Society of America (GSA) (2016–2018)

Member. Gerontological Society of America (GSA) (2010–Present)




Did this faculty or staff member support your efforts to succeed? Give them a Student success shout-out.

WOU logo

Facebook   Instagram   Twitter  YouTube  wouTV

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
345 Monmouth Ave. N.
Monmouth OR 97361

503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593

Tools

Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

A-Z Index
Accessibility
Academic Calendar
Class Schedule
Jobs at WOU
Partnerships
Student Services

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility    Public Records    Privacy    Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.

arrow up