Directory

Liza Behrens
PhD, RN

Assistant Professor

USB II, University Park

Phone: 814-865-0743

Email: llb237@psu.edu

Behrens specializes in nursing, health professions, and community engagement. Her research focuses on person-centered care, dementia, and nursing home residents and staff. She has published over 35 peer-reviewed papers on delivering person-centered dementia care in nursing homes. Her research interest lies in implementing preference-based, person-centered care to improve the well-being of residents with dementia.

Behrens has experience in providing nursing care for older adults across various settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home-based care. She has held leadership roles in nursing and clinical research and is involved in projects like the DIGNITY project, which aims to improve decision-making for aging individuals with dementia. Behrens is committed to enhancing nursing home care and advancing nursing education and research.

Behrens’ teaching approach is based on her 25 years of experience as an adult learner. She believes the best learning occurs when students are fully engaged and supported by positive relationships with professors and mentors. Her aim is to create positive student-teacher relationships to promote an inclusive learning environment, engagement in learning activities, and growth as nursing professionals and leaders

Education

• Post doc, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 2021
• PhD, Pennsylvania State University College of Nursing, 2019
• MSN, George Washington University College of Nursing, 2011
• BSN, Cedar Crest College, 2007
• BS, Norwich University, 2001
• ASN, Norwich University, 1999

Awards and Honors

• Early Career Scholar, Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institue, Penn State. (2022)
• Associate Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania. (2020)
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania. (2019)

Teaching

Courses Taught

• NURS580: Theoretical and Philosophical Basis of Nursing
• NURS510: Theoretical and Scientific Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
• NURS494: Honors Thesis

Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization

PRIMARY CLINICAL FOCUS:

• Nursing leadership
• Person-centered care
• Gerontology
• Long-term care
• Dementia

Mentorship

• PhD Student Advisee
• PhD Student Dissertation Committees
• Schreyer’s Honor Students Advisees

Research

Research & Publications

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise

PRIMARY

• Risk management, person-centered care, older adults, dementia

SECONDARY

• Quality of care in nursing homes, clinical decision-making

Presentations and Conference Involvement

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS:

• Brothers, A., Behrens, L., & Leach, C. (2024). Cultivating trust in research partnerships with older adults across the community engagement continuum [Symposium Co-Chair]. Innovation in Aging, Volume 8, Issue Supplement_1, December 2024, Page 615, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igae098.2015
• Morgan, J., Taylor, P., & Behrens, L. (2024). Policy Series: What is “Good Work” in long-term services and supports? Setting a research and policy agenda for direct care workforce. [Discussant].  Innovation in Aging, Volume 8, Issue Supplement_1, December 2024, Page 606, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igae098.1985
• Behrens, L., & Ryan, S. (2024, August 12). Empowering US nursing homes to engage in patient centered outcomes research (PCOR) to support DIGNITY of older adults living in care communities [Podium Presentation]. 2024 AHFSA Annual Training Conference, Atlanta, GA, United States. https://ahfsa2024afocusonpeopleproc.sched.com/
• Behrens, L., Kowalchik, K., Ryan, S. (2024, April 2). Supporting dignity of risk-taking in older adulthood for nursing home residents [Podium Presentation]. PADONA’s 36th Annual Conference, Hershey, PA. https://padona.com/convention/
• Behrens, L., Ryan, S., & Tansey, J. (2023, August 15). Reconceptualizing safety in nursing homes: Developing a program for decision-making in aging and dementia for autonomy (DIGNITY) [Podium Presentation]. 2023 AHFSA Annual Training Conference, Nashville, TN, United States. https://2023ahfsaannualtrainingconf.sched.com/
• Behrens, L., & Ryan, S. (2022, July 27-30). Reconceptualizing “surplus” safety in nursing homes [Podium Presentation]. Pioneering a New Culture of Aging 2022 Conference, Denver, CO, United States. https://www.pioneernetwork.net/pioneering-a-new-culture-of-aging-2022-conference
• Behrens, L., Van Haitsma, K., Boltz, M., Calo, W., Van Scoy, L.J., Kraschnewski, J. (2024). Nursing home leader perspectives of delivering quality care at transition to endemic phase of COVID-19. Innovation in Aging, Volume 8, Issue Supplement_1, December 2024, Pages 27–28, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igae098.0082
• Behrens, L., Kowalchik, K., Boltz, M., & Kraschnewski, J. (2023). Engagement of nursing home community experts to modify the DIGNITY intervention. Innovation in Aging, 7, Issue Supplement_1, December 2023, Pages 583–584, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.1910
• Behrens, L., Heilbrunn, E., Boltz, M. (2023). Building bridges and catalyzing research for evidence-based infection control: Project ECHO for nursing homes. [Symposium Chair]. Innovation in Aging, 7, Issue Supplement_1, December 2023, Page 620, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2020
• Behrens, L., Heilbrunn, E., Boltz, M. (2023). Building bridges and catalyzing research for evidence-based infection control: Project ECHO for nursing homes. [Symposium Chair]. Innovation in Aging, 7, Issue Supplement_1, December 2023, Page 620, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2020
• Behrens LL, Kowalchik K, Miller M, Murray A, Boltz M, Kraschnewski J. (2023). 180 Enhancing Engagement of Nursing Home Staff and Leaders in Intervention Development. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 7(s1):55-55. doi:10.1017/cts.2023.258
• Behrens, L., Roberts, T. (2022). Delivering person-centered care in times of crisis. [Symposium Chair]. GSA 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, United States. Innovation in Aging, Volume 6, Issues Supplement_1, November 2022, Page 231. https://academic.oup.com/innovateage/article/6/Supplement_1/NP/6939341
• Behrens, L., Van Haitsma, K., Boltz, M., Sciegaj, M., Abbott, K., Madrigal, C. (2020). Pervasive Risk Avoidance: Perceptions of Nursing Staff When Delivering Preference-Based Person-Centered Care. 32nd ENRS Annual Scientific Sessions. Nursing Research, 69, E26-E188. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000430

Research Funding and Grants

ACTIVE

• Primary Investigator, Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence Nese Endowment Funding for Aging, Geriatric, and Gerontology Project ($9,000.00). “ Development of DIGNITY Learning Modules for Nursing Home Staff”. December 1, 2024-September 30, 2025.
• Primary Investigator, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Award (Contract# EACB-3475) , “EMPOWERING US Nursing Home Stakeholders to Engage in Patient-Centered Clinical Effectiveness Research.” December 1, 2024-November 30, 2026.
• Primary Investigator, Penn State CTSI KL2 Mentored Career Award, partially supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Grant KL2 TR002015 and Grant UL1 TR002014, Pilot Testing DIGNITY (Decision-making In aGing and demeNtIa for auTonomY) for Preference-Based Care in Nursing Homes.” May 1, 2022-Current

COMPLETED

• Co-Investigator, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Grant 2020C2-10728, “COVID-19 Project ECHO for Nursing Homes: A Patient-centered, Randomized-controlled Trial to Implement Infection Control and Quality of Life Best Practices” August 1, 2021-December 31, 2023 (PI: Jennifer Kraschnewski).
• Primary Investigator, Penn State Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence Nese Endowment Funding for Aging, Geriatric, and Gerontology Project ($4,315.55) “Utilizing Community Engagement Studios to Inform the Design of the DIGNITY trial” 6/2022-9/2022
• Primary Investigator, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Spring 2020 Faculty Pilot Grant ($9,994.00) “Risk Perceptions and Cultural Influences of Nursing Home Residents Receiving Preference-based Care” 2020-2021

Publications and Scholarly Work

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• McClean, M., Akter, N., Kowalchik, K., Mogle, J., Kitt-Lewis, EA, Paudel, A., Roman Jones, J. Carpenter, J, Behrens, L. (2025). Balancing infection risks and resident preferences: Nursing home staff risk perceptions around social activities.  The Gerontologist. In Press.
• Behrens, L.L., Kitt-Lewis, E., Boltz, M., Calo, W.A., Lehman, E., Whitaker, J., Osevala, N., Van Haitsma, K., Van Scoy, L.J., Kraschnewski, J.L. (2024). Leadership perspectives on nursing home operations from crisis to control: A mixed methods study.  Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 25(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105145
• Behrens, LL., Anderson, H.L., Kowalchik, K.H., Mogle, J., Roman Jones, J., Van Haitsma, K., Hodgson, N, Boltz, M. (2024). “I’m not a risk-taker”: Risk perceptions of nursing home residents with dementia. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders – An International Journal. 38(2), 168-177. https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0000000000000616
• Behrens, L.L., Madrigal, C., Dellefield, M.E. (2023). Assessment of nursing staff learning needs around person-centered risk management in nursing homes. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49 (2), 7-12. https://doi.org/10.3928/00989134-20230106-02
• Behrens, L. L., Boltz, M., Sciegaj, M., Kolanowski, A., Jones, J. R., Paudel, A., & Van Haitsma, K. (2022). Nursing Staff Perceptions of Outcomes Related to Honoring Residents’ “Risky” Preferences. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(6), 271–281. https://doi.org/10.3928/19404921-20220930-01
• Behrens, L. L., Morgan, B., Summerhayes, E., Talwar, S., Burshnic-Neal, V. L., Ersek, M., & Hodgson, N. (2022). Feasibility and acceptability of a web-based advance care plan for dementia. Geriatric Nursing, 44, 251–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2022.02.022
• Behrens, L., Boltz, M., Riley, K., Eshraghi, K., Resnick, B., Galik, E., Ellis, J., Kolanowski, A., & Van Haitsma, K. (2021). Process evaluation of an implementation study in dementia care (EIT-4-BPSD): stakeholder perspectives. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 1006. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07001-2
• Behrens, L.L. & Naylor, M.D. (2020). “We are Alone in This Battle”: A Framework for a Coordinated Response to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes, Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 32:4-5, 316-322, Doi: 10.1080/08959420.2020.1773190
• Behrens, L. L., Boltz, M., Kolanowski, A., Sciegaj, M., Madrigal, C., Abbott, K., & Van Haitsma, K. (2020). Pervasive Risk Avoidance: Nursing Staff Perceptions of Risk in Person-Centered Care Delivery. The Gerontologist, 60(8), 1424–1435. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa099

BOOK CHAPTERS

• Yevchak Sillner, A., & Behrens, L. (2024). Organizational approaches to promote person-centered care. In M. Boltz, E. Capezuti, T. Fulmer, & D. Zwicker (eds.). Evidence-Based Geriatric Nursing Protocols for Best Practice (7th ed.). New York: Springer.
• Batchelor, M., Behrens, L.L., Eshraghi, K., Degenholtz, H.B., & Rantz, M. (2023). Improving quality in nursing homes. In J. Reifsnyder, A. Kolanowski, & J. Dunbar-Jacob (eds.). Practice & Leadership in Nursing Homes: Building Academic-Practice Partnerships (pp.297-317). Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
• ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6143-2654
• Complete List of Published Work in My Bibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/liza.behrens.1/bibliography/public/

Editorial and Peer Review Roles

• BMC Geriatrics, BMC Health Services Research, JAMDA, Journal of Aging & Social Policy, Research Involvement and Engagement, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Journal for Geriatric Nursing, Journal of Gerontological Nursing, Geriatric Nursing Research.

Community and Policy Engagement

• Elder Abuse Task Force, Centre County Office of Aging, Advisor. (September 8, 2022 – Present). Advise on issues related to elder abuse in Centre County and report this back to the Centre County Aging Office Board.
• Centre County Aging Advisory Council, Board Member, Elected, Regional. (May 5, 2022 – Present). Consult/advise local aging agency on service needs for older adults living in Centre County.
• Valley View Haven Retirement Community, Board Member, Elected, Local. (January 2, 2024 – Present).

Service

Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships

LEADERSHIP

• Gerontological Society of America Community Engaged Research Interest Group Convener. (2025)
• Gerontological Society of America Community Engaged Research Interest Group Co-Convener. (2024)
• National Hartford Center of Gerontological Excellence Membership Committee Member. (2023-2024)

MEMBERSHIPS

• Council for Advancement of Nursing Science
• Gerontological Society of America
• Eastern Nursing Research Society
• International Association of Clinical Research Nurses.

Clinically-oriented Conference Presentations and Clinical Publications

• Behrens, L. (Researcher). (2024, October 17). Featured K to R essentials graduate: Liza Behrens, PhD, RN [Audio podcast]. https://pod.link/1675974485
• Behrens, L., & Ryan, S. (2024, August 12). Engagement of nursing home surveyors on the DIGNITY protocol [Invited Presentation]. 2024 AHFSA Annual Training Conference, Atlanta, GA, United States. https://ahfsa2024afocusonpeopleproc.sched.com/
• Behrens, L. (2024, April 26). Risk perceptions and cultural influences of older adults living with dementia in nursing homes [Invited Oral Presentation]. University of Pennsylvania Frank Morgan Jones 2024 Lecture, Foulkeways at Gwynedd, Gwynedd, PA.
• Behrens, L., Kemeny, B., & Kowalchik, K. (2023, December 5). There is dignity in risk-taking: Developing a program for decision-making in aging and dementia for autonomy (DIGNITY) [Webinar]. #Activities Strong Virtual Winter Gathering. https://activitiesstrong.com/virtual-winter-gathering-2023/
• Behrens, L., Ryan, S., & Tansey, J. (2023, August 15). Diving deeply into DIGNITY [Workshop]. 2023 AHFSA Annual Training Conference, Nashville, TN, United States. https://2023ahfsaannualtrainingconf.sched.com/
• Behrens, L., Knecht, J., Kowalchik, K., & Kemeny, B. (2023, July 26).  I2 Readiness to impact dignity of risk-taking in older adulthood [Workshop]. 2023 CFI Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, USA https://thegreenhouseproject.org/wp-content/uploads/ConferenceSchedule-3.pdf
• Behrens, L., & Carpenter, J. (2023, April 6). Long-term care staff and resident risk perceptions during COVID-19 public health crisis [Webinar]. The CGNE Seminar Series Spring 2023, Pennsylvania State University. https://www.nursing.psu.edu/cgne/collaborative-seminar-series/
• Behrens, L. (Researcher). (2022, October 26). Elevate eldercare: Rethinking “surplus safety” in long-term care [Audio Podcast].  https://thegreenhouseproject.org/podcast/
• Behrens, L. (2021, February 23). Older adults and COVID-19: Implications for Aging Policy and Practice [Webinar]. Journal of Aging and Social Policy and University of Massachusetts Boston, MA.

Interprofessional Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Global Health

• Board Member, VOICE PA – Voice of Inspired Change for Elders.  (2024-present)

Learn more about Interprofessional Education »

Social Media Accounts

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/liza-behrens-phd-rn-39492912

Download Dr. Behrens’ Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/5/2025