Ruth E. Dunkle

Wilbur J. Cohen Collegiate Professor of Social Work

Ruth E. Dunkle

Degrees

  • BS, Social Science, 1969, Syracuse University, NY;
  • MSW, Direct Service/ Aging, 1973, Syracuse University, NY;
  • PhD, Social Science, 1978, Syracuse University, NY

BioSketch

Professor Ruth Dunkle's research, teaching, and clinical practice focus on gerontology. Recent research projects include "Mothers of Adult Daughters with a Serious Mental Illness: The Experience of African Americans and Whites" and "An Historical Perspective of Social Service Delivery in Detroit in the Twentieth Century." Since 1988, Professor Dunkle has served as a project co-director of the National Institute on Aging training program, "Social Research Training on Applied Issues of Aging," with Professor Berit Ingersoll-Dayton. She also serves as co-director of the Geriatric Fellowship Program with Letha Chadiha. Professor Dunkle recently wrote a book on the oldest old, which examines their future time perspectives and their coping strategies in dealing with the changes in their physical and psychological functioning, and which identifies relevant service delivery strategies for improving the quality of their lives.


Personal Information
Email redunkle@umich.edu
Mailbox  11
INDI  114
Primary Location
Room: 3834 SSWB
Phone: (734) 763-6575
Fax: (734) 763-3372
 University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 S. University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Selected Publications

Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Dunkle, R. E., Chadiha, L. A., Lawrence-Jacobson, A., Li, L., Weir, E., et al. (in press). Intergenerational ambivalence: Aging mothers whose adult daughters are mentally ill. Families in Society.
Dunkle, R. E. (in press). The oldest old. In D. Carr (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the life course and human development.
Dunkle, R. & Dennis, M. K. (in press). Social work. In J. Halter, et al. (Eds.), Principles of Geriatric Medicing and Gerontology (6th ed).
Feld, S., Dunkle, R., Schroepfer, T., & Shen, H. W. (2006). Expansion of elderly couples' IADL caregiver networks beyond the marital dyad. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 63(2), 95-113.
Jeon, H. S., Dunkle, R. E., & Roberts, B. L. (2006). Worries of the very old. Health and Social Work, 31(4), 256-265.