Biography
Kelly Munly, Ph.D., is an associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State Altoona with a research and teaching focus in adult development and aging. Her doctoral degree in human development, as well as Gerontology and Future Professoriate certificates, are from Virginia Tech.
Munly received the Athleen J. Stere Teaching Award from Penn State Altoona in 2021. In academia, government contract settings, nonprofits, and direct care, she has studied and worked with a range of topics, including adult family and foster care; caregiving relationships; intersectionality, feminist and critical theory; autoethnography and qualitative multiple methods; intergenerational programming; and community-based public health intervention.
Munly regularly teaches Adult Development and Aging, Social Perspectives on Aging, Development Throughout Adulthood, Values and Ethics in Health and Human Development Professions, and the First Year Seminar.
Research Interests
I explore qualitative multiple methods and engage intersectionality, feminist and critical theory to both understand and represent care partners and care partner relationships, particularly in adult family and foster care contexts. I am also collaborating on scholarship to highlight intergenerational work with colleagues across university contexts and am currently co-researching age-friendly adaptations to a diversity curriculum applied in an intergenerational university setting. I continue to support students in developing autoethnographies and understanding research foundations, including the processes of developing theoretical frameworks and qualitative coding schemes.
Publications
Munly, K., Roberto, K.A., & Allen, K. R. (in press). Adult family care: A home-like environment for community-based care. In F. Ferdous & E. Roberts (Eds.), Redesigning the future of long-term care settings for older adults. New York, NY: Springer. Sharp, E. A., & Munly, K. (2022). Reopening a can of words: Qualitative secondary data analysis. Journal of Family Theory & Review. Advance online publication. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1111/jftr.12443 Munly, K., Allen, K. R. & Roberto, K. A. (2021). Experiences of black women adult foster care providers for aging adults: Negotiating power and care. Journal of Women & Aging. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2021.1919487 Beaver, S., Munly, K., & McGregor, S. (2021). Enhancing wellness in older adults through intergenerational community-engaged learning programs in long-term care settings. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 19(2), 272-279. Munly, K., Allen, K. R., & Roberto, K.A. (2019). Experiences of adult foster-care providers in facilitating family systems. Family Focus, 80, F6-F7. Munly, K., Roberto, K.A., & Allen, K. R. (2018). Understanding resilience of adult foster care providers. In B. Resnick, L. P. Gwyther, & K. A. Roberto (Eds.), Resilience in aging: Concepts, research, and outcomes (2nd ed., pp. 367-383). New York, NY: Springer. Munly, K., Tilley-Lubbs, G., & Sheusi, C. (2016). Henry and Sneaky: Finding resolution to my ontological question about service. In G. A. Tilley-Lubbs & S. B. Calva (Eds.), Re-telling our stories: Critical autoethnographic narratives. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers. Munly, K. (2016). Book review of Drago’s ‘Living Safely, Aging Well: A Guide to Preventing Injuries at Home.’ Journal of Applied Gerontology, 35, 801-804.
Education
Doctorate of Philosophy, Human Development, Concentration in Adult Development and Aging, May 2015, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA Gerontology Certificate, May 2015, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA Future Professoriate Graduate Certificate, May 2015, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA Master of Science, Psychology, June 2000, Maharishi International University (Maharishi University of Management), Fairfield, IA Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English, Minor in French, May 1996, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA