Michelle Ackerman, PhD (Developmental Psychology)

Areas of Expertise:

• Adult Development and Gerontology
• Cognitive aging (aging-related changes in cognitive abilities)
• Cognitive training in cognitively impaired and unimpaired older adults
• Physical training in older adults to improve both physical and cognitive functioning
  • Applied everyday outcomes, such as mobility and driving in older adults
  • Particularly cognitive and functional performance as longitudinal predictors of driving ability
• Also, the impact of providing feedback regarding cognitive abilities on driving habits and behavior

Education:

• PhD in Developmental Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Graduate Certificate in Gerontology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• MA in Developmental Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• BS in Psychology, Auburn University Montgomery

Dissertation:

• ​The Impact of Feedback on Self-Rated Driving Ability among Older Adults

Research Areas of Interest:

• Adult Development and Gerontology
• Cognitive aging (aging-related changes in cognitive abilities)
• Cognitive training in cognitively impaired and unimpaired older adults
• Physical training in older adults to improve both physical and cognitive functioning
  • Applied everyday outcomes, such as mobility and driving in older adults
  • Particularly cognitive and functional performance as longitudinal predictors of driving ability
• The impact of providing feedback regarding cognitive abilities on driving habits and behavior
• Online Eduaction for adults

Selected Publications:

• Ackerman, M. & Shapira, B. (2021). Dissertation sequence at a fully online nonprofit university: Evidence for best practice. Presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) Conference, Virtual.
• Ackerman, M. L., Shapira, B. & Blackwell, J. (2020). Benefits of and student success with an online doctoral Program: Comparative data on time to completion, retention, and dissertation quality. Presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) Conference, Virtual. https://convention.apa.org/

• Ackerman, M. & Shapira, B. (2021). Dissertation sequence at a fully online nonprofit university: Evidence for best practice. Presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) Conference, Virtual.
• Ackerman, M. L., Shapira, B. & Blackwell, J. (2020). Benefits of and student success with an online doctoral Program: Comparative data on time to completion, retention, and dissertation quality. Presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) Conference, Virtual. https://convention.apa.org/
• Ackerman, M. L., Crowe, M., Wadley, V., Vance, D. E., Edwards, J. D. & Ball, K. K. (2014). What factors influence the relationship between feedback on cognitive performance and subsequent driving self-regulation? Journal of Applied Gerontology. doi: 0733464814529473
• Vance, D. E., Fazeli, P. L., Dodson, J. E., Ackerman, M. L., Talley, M., & Appel, S. J. (2014). The synergistic effects of HIV, diabetes, and aging on cognition: Implications for practice and research. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 46(5), 292-305. doi:
• Ackerman, M. L., Ball, K., Crowe, M., Owsley, C., Vance, D., and Wadley, V. (2011). The impact of feedback on self-rated driving ability and driving self-regulation among older adults. The Gerontologist, Editor's Choice article, 51(3), 367-378.
• Ball, K. K. & Ackerman, M. L. (2011). The older driver: Training and assessment, knowledge, skills and attitudes. In Fisher, D. L., Rizzo, M., Caird, J. K., & Lee, J. D. (Eds).  Handbook of Driving Simulation for Engineering, Medicine, and Psychology.  Boca Raton, FL:  CRC Press.