Jennifer Gray, Ph.D.

Title: Professor
Division: Health Studies
Unit: Public Health
Office Location: Wirtz Hall 250
Office Phone: 815-753-4801
Office Fax: 815-753-5406
Email: j-gray@niu.edu

Courses Taught

  • PHHE 461: Principles of the Organization of Public Health and Public Health Care Programs 
  • PHHE 433/533: Principles of Long-Term Care Administration 
  • PHHE 607: Health Services Management 
  • PHHE 655: Human Resources Management in the Health Care Setting
  • PHHE 661: Public Health Policy and Law

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Illinois - Chicago, Public Health (concentration in Gerontology) 
  • M.P.P., University of Chicago, Public Policy, certificate in Health Administration and Policy 
  • B.A., University of Notre Dame, Government (second major, Theology)

Research Interests

  • Long-term care workforce:  work stress and palliative care services challenges
  • Health promotion behaviors of older adults and people with disabilities
  • Palliative care, with a particular interest on bereavement issues

Recent Publications

Hughes, C., Gray, J., and Kim, J. (published online January 17, 2022). The perspective of administrators of intellectual disability organizations on the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities.

Kim, J., Gray, J., Ciesla, J. R., and Yao, P. (published online July 21, 2021). The impact of an Internet use promotion program on communication, Internet use, and the extent of social networks among low-income older adultsAgeing International.

Kim, J., Gray, J., and Baker, H. (published online July 5, 2021). The effect of a web-based deep breathing app on stress of direct care workers: Uncontrolled intervention study. Journal on Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Kim, J. and Gray, J. Effect of online palliative care training on knowledge and self-efficacy of direct care workers. (in press). Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Special Issue on the Direct Care Workforce, accepted November 2020.

Gray, J. and Kim, J. (2020). Palliative care needs of direct care workers caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. 48 (1), 69-77. https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12318

Kim, J., and Gray, J. (2018). Palliative care experiences and needs of direct care workers. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 21 (8). Published online 19 Apr 2018. doi:10.1089/jpm.2017.0555.

Gray, J. and Kim, J. Direct Care Workers’ Experiences of Grief and Needs for support. (2017). Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 30(6), 995-1006. 

Gray, J.A., and Abendroth, M. (2016). Perspectives of US direct care workers on the grief process of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Implications for practice. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 29 (5), 468-480.

Hahn, J.E., Gray, J., McCallion, P., Ronneberg, C., Stancliffe, R. J., Heller, T., Guiden, C. H., Fox, S. and Janicki, M.P. (2016). Transitions in aging: Health, retirement, and later life: Review of research, practice, and policy. Chapter 7. In Critical issues in intellectual and developmental disabilities: Contemporary research, practice, and policy. Washington, DC: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Gray, J. and Truesdale, J. (2015) A Delphi Study on Staff Bereavement Training in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Field. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 53 (6), 394-405.

Kim, J., and Gray, J. (2015). Qualitative evaluation of an intervention program for sustained Internet use among low-income older adults. Ageing International, 41 (3), 240-253.

Abendroth, M., Greenblum, C.A., Gray, J. (2014). The value of peer-led support groups among caregivers of persons with Parkinson’s disease. Holistic Nursing Practice, 28, 48-54.

Gray, J., Kim, J., Ciesla, J., and Yao, P. (2014). Rasch analysis of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6). Journal of Applied Gerontology, 25, 1-21. doi:10.1177/0733464814560468 

Gray-Stanley, J., and Muramatsu, N. (2013). When the job has lost its appeal: Intentions to quit among direct care workers. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 38, 124-133.

Gray, J., Zimmerman, J., and Rimmer, J. (2012). Built environment instruments for walkability, bikeability, and recreation: disability and universal design relevant? Disability and Health Journal, 5, 87-101.

Gray-Stanley, J., and Muramatsu, N. (2011). Work stress, burnout, and social and personal resources among direct care workers. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32, 1065-1074.

Gray-Stanley, J., Muramatsu, N., Heller, T., Hughes, S., Johnson, T., and Ramirez-Valles, J. (2010).  Work stress and depression among direct support professionals serving adults aging with intellectual/developmental disabilities: The role of work support and locus of control. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research54 (8), 749-761.

Rimmer, J., Hsieh, K., Graham, B., Gerber, B., and Gray-Stanley, J. (2010). Removal of barriers to physical activity in obese African American women with mobility disabilities participating in a telephone-based physical activity coaching intervention. Journal of Women’s Health, 9 (10), 1869-1876.

Rimmer, J. and Gray-Stanley, J. (2009). Physical activity for people with disabilities. Part V: Chapter 54, 1437-1458. In W.R Frontera (Ed.), Physical Activity and Sport for People with Disabilities. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice.  Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Contact Us

College of Health and Human Sciences
Wirtz Hall 227
815-753-1891
chhs@niu.edu

The Dean's Office is open for face-to-face meetings by appointment only.

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