Janice Whitaker
M.Ed., BSN, RN, CDP
CGNE Administrator, Education Program Manager, Community Liaison
CGNE, University Park
Phone: 814-360-8559
Email: jmw5969@psu.edu
Whitaker has served as CGNE Administrator, Education Program Manager, and Community Liaison since 2015 providing oversight and operational management of the center’s strategic plan for education, research, service, and sustainability. This includes Age-Friendly Care PA, CGNE Seminar Series, Annual CGNE Alumni & Friends Spring Brunch, Living with Dementia, and many other center activities. Whitaker manages the college’s contributions to the Long-Term Care RISE project as a key partner with the Penn State College of Medicine. As a Penn State Teaching Nursing Home Project team member, Whitaker is a nursing home on-site coordinator. She co-lead Penn State’s Age Friendly University recognition in AY24/25 and five-year plan along with the AFU Task Force of representatives from across the university. Whitaker collaborates with internal and external academic, clinical, and community partners to advance the CGNE’s mission. She is a geriatric nurse, educator, curriculum and program manager, and leader. Prior to working at Penn State, Whitaker was a Director of Nursing in a skilled nursing/rehab center.
Education
- Masters in Educational Leadership, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
- Bachelors of Science in Nursing, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY
Awards and Honors
- Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing. (2022).
- Dementia Friends PA Champion. (2022).
- Honor a Nurse, Beta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. (2021).
- Celebrating Women in Our Community, Town & Gown magazine recognition. (2020).
Teaching
- Develops and implements CGNE Seminar series each fall and spring semester.
- LTC RISE Project ECHO expert hub team member and presenter.
- Dementia CareForce educator for RISE regional educators and LTCFs staff.
- Co-curriculum developer of Living with Dementia community education series.
- Dementia Friends PA champion.
- Provides education and training on multiple geriatric, long-term care, leadership, and other topics for a variety of audiences.
Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization
PRIMARY:
- Age-friendly, dementia, geriatrics, long-term care, leadership, nursing management
CERTIFICATION:
- Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)
Mentorship
Provide guidance and support to CGNE membership of 18 leadership team members, over 25 faculty-staff affiliates, and at least 16 graduate student affiliates. Foster connections with undergraduate and high school students interested in gerontology. Build clinical and community partnerships to raised awareness about and engage in center activities.
Research
Research & PublicationsResearch Interests and Areas of Expertise
- Age-Friendly Care/Community
- Caregiver Skills Training
- Dementia-Friendly Care/Community
- Geriatric Workforce Enhancement
- Interdisciplinary Person-Centered Care
- Leadership & Nursing Management
- Practice & Regulatory Standards
- Strategic Planning & Implementation
Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement Projects
CURRENT PROJECTS:
- Age-Friendly Care PA
- Age-Friendly University at Penn State
- LTC RISE (Long-Term Care Resiliency, Infrastructure, Sustainability, and Empowerment)
- Dementia CareForce in LTCFs
- Dementia Friends PA
- Living with Dementia community education
- Teaching Nursing Home
Presentations and Conference Involvement
- Center County GIN (Geriatric Interest Network) semi-annual conference
- GSA annual scientific meeting
- NHCGNE annual conference (and more!)
Research Funding and Grants
CURRENT PROJECTS:
- LTC RISE: Long-Term Care Transformation Office, PA Department of Health – CMS; Co-PI, Nese CON Project Director
- Teaching Nursing Home: Jewish Healthcare Foundation and John A. Hartford Foundation; Penn State Team member
PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BUT DISSEMINATION CONTINUES TO BE SUSTAINED:
- Age-Friendly Care PA, HRSA GWEP, Team member and Project Director for Living with Dementia program
- Project ECHO for Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: PA Department of Health – CMS; Co-PI
Publications and Scholarly Work
- “I Must Be the One to Change; He’s Doing the Best He Can”: Care Partner Evaluation Results from a Four-Part, In-Person, Dementia Community Education Program
- Rubio, O. C., Husser, E. K., Wright, R., Berish, D., Whitaker, J., Boltz, M. & Fick, D., Feb 2025, In: International journal of environmental research and public health. 22, 2, 295.
- Leadership Perspectives on Nursing Home Operations From Crisis to Control: A Mixed Methods Study
- 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., Sep 2024, In: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 25, 9, 105145.
- Accelerating guideline dissemination in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A patient-centered randomized controlled trial.
- Kraschnewski, J. L., Heilbrunn, E. S., Calo, W. A., Kong, L., Lehman, E., Hogentogler, E., Fisher, A., Osevala, N., Paules, C. I., Whitaker, J., Urso, J., Chamberlain, L., Suda, K. M., Stedjan, M. & McNeil, L., May 1 2023, In: Geriatric Nursing. 51, p. 439-445 7 p.
- Synthesizing family perspectives on health: Using fun, creative activities to stimulate health conversations
- Sandbulte, J., Beck, J., Whitaker, J. & Carroll, J. M., Jan 1 2020, Interactions, 27, 1, p. 8-9 2 p.
- Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
Editorial and Peer Review Roles
- Geriatric Nursing, manuscript reviewer
- Gerontological Nursing, manuscript reviewer
Service
Community and Policy Engagement
- PA Department of Aging
Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships
MEMBERSHIPS
- Centre County GIN, GSA, Sigma Theta Tau
- NHCGNE, DEGN member
LEADERSHIP
- Age-Friendly University at Penn State, Co-Lead
- Dementia Friends PA, Advisory Board
Additional Information
- Nurse leader
- Gero community member
- Concert goer
- Fitness and sports enthusiest
- Mom and Nana!
Website
Download Whitaker’s Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/5/2025
