Joanna Culligan

Joanna has worked as the Therapeutic Program Manager for the Engagement Center for Creative Aging at Virginia Tech since 2018.

The Center helps older adults in our community who are experiencing change due to dementia. Its intergenerational programs support those adults and their families so they can stay together as long as possible.

Joanna has embraced her hybrid outreach and teaching role with passion by creating a therapeutic environment that invites older adults with dementia in the adult day program to relax and enjoy a sense of dignity, purpose, and creativity.

“She creates an intergenerational environment where students feel safe to put the theories and skills they've learned into practice,” said her nominator. “Students come in curious and timid about working with older adults but leave eager to explore careers in gerontology.”

Joanna pushes and inspires students to consider real-life issues in aging and dementia care. Through skill development and constructive feedback, she trains them to improve their communication and leadership skills.

After not being able to take participants on field trips for several years, Joanna finds creative ways to provide additional opportunities. She collaborated to create and then lead the International Dementia Care Study abroad to Europe in 2022 and is now exploring starting up an intergenerational choir of care partners and college students.

Joanna models for her students how to engage, explore, and pursue professional relationships, advocacy, and leadership.

“The field of dementia care will be better because of the training, experience, and intrigue she is instilling in her students,” said her nominator. “She aspires for better services for older adults and teaches her students to aspire for more as well.”

Students usually come to field study at the Center to gain experience working with older adults, but they often express that their plans post-graduation are to work with children in some capacity.

Joanna said that each semester, some students’ work at the Center changes their plans to work with older adults.

“Even if my students still want to work with children after graduating, their experience here informs their thinking about older adults and how they are just people, just like them,” said Joanna. “I regularly hear that students' relationships with their grandparents and other adults in their lives improve due to their time with us.”

“I work with my students to help them gain confidence and skills to be successful in our center and in how they engage with our program participants,” she said. “When my students start taking initiative and becoming leaders themselves by helping our participants through their actions and care, I couldn't be more proud.”

“Most of our participants are experiencing a form of dementia that changes how they communicate,” Jo said. “When they are unable to use their voice, I make sure that I am speaking up for them to help improve their quality of life.”

For upholding and teaching the value of a person no matter their age, I am honored to present the faculty-staff Aspire! Award for PREPARE FOR A LIFE OF COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP to Joanna Culligan.