Kelley R. Macmillan, Ph.D., MSW
Assistant Professor
School of Social Work
University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland

Kelley Macmillan received a B.A. in Psychology (Minor Biology) from Indiana University (1973), Bloomington, IN, a Masters in Social work from Indiana University (1984), Indianapolis, IN and a PhD from the School of Social Welfare at The University of Kansas (2005), Lawrence, KS.

The title of Dr Macmillan’s dissertation research project was: A qualitative study exploring community dwelling low-income older adults’ responses to challenges caused by functional disabilities.  The conceptual framework guiding this study is the Baltes and Baltes (1990) successful aging model.  Interview data for the study were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to explicate the process and behaviors initiated by older adults to maintain their independence (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Strauss & Corbin, 1998).

Currently, Dr Macmillan teaches foundation Social Work Practice with Individuals, Human Behavior Theory and Social Policy in Aging at the MSW Program at Maryland.

Dr Macmillan was awarded a Harford Geriatric Social Work Fellowship awarded by the John A. Hartford Foundation.  In addition to the research support, the Fellowship also included mentoring by nationally recognized gerontological social work researchers through educational programs held in conjunction with national conferences. 

Dr Macmillan received the Rose Dobrof - Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work Best Article in Journal of Gerontological Social Work Award (2004). Dr Mitsuko Nakashima, a colleague at the University of Maryland School of Social Work was the lead author for the article “Decision making in long-term care: Approaches used by older adults and implications for social work practice”.  Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 43 (4), p. 79-102.  This article is based on the work Dr Macmillan did during his doctoral program when he worked in the Office of Aging and Long Term Care and coordinated several project funded by the Kansas Department on Aging. 

Dr Macmillan’s social work practice in medical and long term care settings has been an influence in his current research agenda.