Angela Lavery

Angela Lavery
  • Professor and Graduate Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
  • Department: Social Work Graduate
  • Research Cluster: Social Work, Social Justice & Community Engagement
  • Institution: West Chester University of Pennsylvania
  • Email: ALAVERY@wcupa.edu

Education

  • BS, Human Development and Family Studies: Pennsylvania State University
  • MSW: University of Wyoming
  • PhD, Social Work: University of Denver

Research Interests

GerontologyThanatologyageismolder adultswell-beingend of life carebereavement supportgrief supportdisability and ableismanimal assisted interventionelder abuseelder neglect

Opportunities

Work Study Positions Available: No

Grant Funded Positions Available: No

Course-Credit Research Opportunities Available: No

Volunteer Research Positions Available: No

Open to Faculty Mentoring: Yes

Biography

Dr. Lavery is the coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology and a Professor with the Graduate Social Work Department. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Fellow in Thanatology through the Association for Death Education and Counseling. She has worked in a variety of settings, including hospice and senior centers. Prior to seeking her PhD, she was the Assistant Director of the Wyoming Geriatric Education Center (WyGEC) at the University of Wyoming. Her research and scholarship background includes studying older adults with low income waiting for affordable housing, animal assisted interactions and interventions, disability, as well as older adults at risk for abuse, neglect and exploitation. Dr. Lavery, Dr. Stacie Metz and Dr. Erin Knight recently completed work on a service-learning project with the PA Department of Aging. Dr. Lavery and colleagues worked with this university intergenerational program from 2020 through 2023. Visit the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education or contact Dr. Lavery for more information. Currently Dr. Lavery is working on an Older Adult and Equine Interactions project.

Contact Information

Phone: 610-738-0341

List of Publications

  • Lavery, A. L., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Myers, W. I., & Cicerelle, P. M. (2025). Utilizing photos for deeper learning in graduate social work education. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 45(4), 701-716.
  • Lavery, A., Knight, E., Cole, S., & Metz, S. (2023). Interprofessional collaboration to address social isolation and facilitate intergenerational service learning within graduate education. Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education, 15(1), 3.
  • Lavery, A. (2022). Digital storytelling and intergenerational collaborations: Older adults and college students. Innovation in Aging, Suppl.1, 6, 246.
  • Lavery A. (2021). COVID-19: A Reminder that Addressing Ageism is Essential. Mental Health: NASW Practice Specialty Practice Section: Spring/Summer 2021, 5-6.
  • Lavery, A. L., Hasche, L. K., DePrince, A. P., Gagnon, K., Srinivas, T. & Boyce, E. (2020). Mental health consequences and service utilization among older adults at risk for financial exploitation. Social Work Research, 44(4), 257-265.

Links