Scott E. Wilks, PhD, LMSW
W.H. "Bill" LeBlanc LSU Alumni Association Professor
Director, LSU Healthy Aging Research Center (HARC)
Director, Louisiana Geriatrics Workforce Education Program
Professor
Fellow, The Gerontological Society of America
John A. Hartford Foundation Faculty Scholar in Geriatric Social Work
Office: 3218 Huey P. Long Fieldhouse
Phone: 225-578-1196
E-mail: swilks@lsu.edu
Education
2018 Distinguished Research Award Recipient
PhD, Social Work, The University of Georgia, 2004
MSW, Social Work, Our Lady of the Lake University at San Antonio, 2001
BA, Sociology, Louisiana State University, 1997
Brief Biography
Dr. Scott E. Wilks is Director of the LSU Healthy Aging Research Center. His career has maintained a tightly focused research agenda on enhancing geriatric health and wellbeing, specifically relating to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Dr. Wilks offers an extensive record of administrative expertise, leadership, and training necessary for direction, implementation, evaluation, and reporting of large, funded research programs. He has earned financial support from a number of various organizations, including:
· the Health Resources and Services Administration, under the auspice of the federal Dept. of Health & Human Services,
· the American Geriatrics Association,
· the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York,
· and locally with AARP Louisiana chapter, Poydras Home of New Orleans, and Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area.
To date, Dr. Wilks has earned approximately $12.5 million dollars directed toward his geriatrics research, teaching, and training.
Dr. Wilks holds two lifelong, national titles: Fellow with the Gerontological Society of America and Hartford Foundation Faculty Scholar in Geriatric Social Work. In the LSU College of Human Sciences and Education, he was named the inaugural, W.H. LeBlanc LSU Alumni Association Endowed Professor.
Dr. Wilks earned his BA from LSU, his MSW from Our Lady of the Lake University at San Antonio, and his PhD from the University of Georgia. He received further training from Stanford University Faculty Development Institute and Gerontological Society of America Policy Leadership Institute.
Selected Publications
Wilks, S.E., Boyd, P. A., Bates, S. M., Cain, D. S., & Geiger, J. R. (in press). Montessori-based activities among persons with late-stage dementia: Evaluation of mental and behavioral health outcomes. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. DOI: 10.1177/1471301217703242
Wilks, S.E., Spurlock, W.J., Brown, S.C., Teegen, B., & Geiger, J. (in press). Examining spiritual support among African American and Caucasian Alzheimer’s caregivers: A risk and resilience study. Geriatric Nursing. DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.05.002
Geiger, J.R., Wilks, S.E., Guillory, S.A., Goodson, K., Spivey, C.A., & Isaza, J.E. (2018). Psychological coping strategies among post-surgery posterior lumbar interbody fusion patients: Predictive values on pain and functioning outcomes. Journal of Pain Management, 11, 153-161. ISSN: 1939-5914
Boyd, P.A., Wilks, S.E., & Geiger, J.R. (2018). ADL assessment among nursing home residents with advanced dementia: Psychometric reevaluation of the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale. Health & Social Work, 43, 101-108. DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hly010
Wilks, S.E., Guillory, S.A., Geiger, J.R., Goodson, K., Begault, T.S., Chen, Z., & Isaza, J.E. (2018). Assessing psychological resilience among pre-spine surgery patients in Louisiana: Psychometric evaluation of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society, 170, 2-6.
Simpson, G.M., Stansbury, K., Wilks, S.E., Pressley, T., Parker, M., & McDougall, G. J. (2018). Support groups for Alzheimer’s caregivers: Creating our own space in uncertain times. Social Work in Mental Health, 16, 303-320. DOI: 10.1080/15332985.2017.1395780
Wilks, S.E., Cain, D.S., Reed-Ashcraft, K.B., & Geiger, J.R. (2017). Gerontological competencies among MSW Students: Evaluation of a Gerontology Specialization Program. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 60, 606-618. DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2017.1325811
Rabalais, A.M., Wilks, S.E., Geiger, J.R., & Bates, S.M. (2017). Prominent feelings and self-regard among survivors of suicide: Does time heal all wounds? Illness, Crisis & Loss, 25, 262-276. DOI: 10.1177/1054137316637189
Wilks, S.E., Geiger, J.R., Bates, S.M., & Wright, A.L. (2017). Reference accuracy among research articles published in Research on Social Work Practice. Research on Social Work Practice, 27, 813-817. DOI: 10.1177/1049731515626802
Mitchell-Williams, M., Skipper, A., Alexander, M., & Wilks, S.E. (2017). Reference list accuracy in social work journals: A follow-up analysis. Research on Social Work Practice, 27, 348-352. DOI: 10.1177/1049731515578536
Lewis, L. M., Wilks, S.E., Geiger, J. R., Barthelemy, J. J., & Livermore, M. M. (2017). College student attitudes toward police in south Louisiana: A racial divide. Africology: Journal of Pan African Studies, 10, 206-223.
Selected Presentations
Geiger, J.R., & Wilks, S.E. (2018, November). Predicting hospital and nursing facility admissions among noninstitutionalized older adults. Accepted for presentation at the Gerontological Society of America’s 71st Annual Scientific Meeting, Boston, MA.
Wilks, S.E., Boyd, P.A., & Geiger, J.R. (2016, November). Reevaluation of the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale among persons with late-stage dementia. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America’s 69th Annual Scientific Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Wilks, S.E., Geiger, J.R., & Chen, Z. (2016, November). Respite care with Alzheimer’s caregivers: A two-year evaluation on psychological health. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America’s 69th Annual Scientific Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Wilks, S.E., Cain, D.S., Reed Ashcraft, K., & Geiger, J.R. (2016, November). Gerontological competencies among MSW Students: Evaluation of a gerontology specialization program. Presented at the Council on Social Work Education’s 62nd Annual Program Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Bates, S.M., Wilks, S.E., Chaney, C., Geiger, J.R., & Ball, A. (2016, January). Psychometric reevaluation of the Coping Inventory for Task Stressors: Distinguishing between African American and Caucasian, Alzheimer’s disease caregivers. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research 20th Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
Wilks, S.E., Geiger, J.R., Boyd, P.A., & Bates, S.M. (2015, November). Montessori activities and late-stage dementia: Evaluation with behavioral and social outcomes. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America’s 68th Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Wilks, S.E., & Boyd, P.A. (2015, January). Psychometric reevaluation of the Coping Inventory for Task Stressors. Presented at the Society for Social Work and Research 19th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Selected Grants/Funded Projects
Wilks, S. E., principal investigator/program director. (2017 – 2021). Louisiana State University School of Social Work BHWET Program: Targeted enhancement in integrated behavioral health care across the lifespan. Funded by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration. Total grant amount: $1.94 million.
Wilks, S. E., principal investigator/program director. (2014 – 2017). Behavioral Health Education and Training for Master’s Level Social Work Interns: Meeting
the Preventive and Interventional Needs of At-Risk Youth in Louisiana. Funded by U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.
Total grant amount: $1.5 million.
Wilks, S.E., co-investigator. (2015). Assessment of Caregiver Needs across Louisiana. Funded by AARP – Louisiana chapter. Contract amount: $10,000.
Wilks, S.E., principal investigator. (2013 – 15). Evaluation of Program Services at Charlie’s Place Respite Center, Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area. Funded by Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Contract amount: $25,000.
Wilks, S. E., principal investigator. (2013 – 2014). Montessori activities to enhance health and well-being among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease: A program evaluation. Contract funded by Poydras Home Retirement Community of New Orleans, LA. Contract amount: $18,000.
Wilks, S. E., principal investigator. (2008 – 10). Examining an appraisal model of burden, coping, and resilience: Differences among African American and Caucasian Alzheimer’s caregivers. Funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation, administered by the Gerontological Society of America. Grant amount: $100,000.