Highest Degree:
Ph.D. in Adult Development and Aging from Penn State in 1982

Other Credentials:
Environmental Gerontologist and Interior Designer specializing in settings for elders, residential and commercial

Currently enrolled in the Rhode Island School of Design, Interior Design Program, to acquire appropriate design credentials that will be superimposed on my research background as an environmental gerontologist

Teaching interests:
associated with understanding relationships between the physical environment and human behavior

post occupancy evaluations assessing the appropriateness of settings for individuals, both indoors and outdoors

residential and commercial designs for settings that address the needs of elders

assisting elders and family members learn how to evaluate a potential

living space before committing to it

helping students gain an understanding of late life development

Research interests:
Examining relationships between the interior design of spaces and suitability for individual development and environmental fit

Outreach/Extension/Service:
focus on the design of interiors for senior community center, Alzheimer's day care center;

feasibility studies for the construction of assisted living facilities, and assisted living facilities that accommodate residents with organic brain syndrome of the Alzheimer's type

Selected Publications (1995 to present):
Chapters in Books
Kalymun, M. (1994). Board and care versus assisted living: Assertaining the similarities and differences. Refereed article republished. In H. Cox (Ed.). Aging: Ninth Edition,(pp.220-225). Guilford, Connecticut: The Duskin Publishing Group, Inc.

_____ (1995), Aging: Tenth Edition, (pp. 190-195). Guilford, Connecticut: The Duskin Publishing Group, Inc.

Journal Article
Kalymun, M. & Adotte-Adam, E. (1995). Factors influencing the conversion of Massachusetts' resident care facilities to assisted living facilities: A case study. Adult Residential Care Journal, 9(1), 35-48.

Refereed Paper Read
Kalymun, M. (1997,May).Interactional dynamics between elders close to death and their medical health care environments: Some observations. Paper presented by invitation at the twenty-eight Annual International Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association, University of Quebec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada