Dr. Sally Pelon
Grand Valley State University
School of Social Work
Email: pelonsa@gvsu.edu

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Michigan State University

Master of Social Work, Western Michigan University

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Sociology, Hope College

Licensures and Certifications

Licensed Master of Social Work, State of Michigan

Professional Memberships

National Association of Social Workers
Council on Social Work Education

SCHOLARSHIP
Book Chapters

Published

Pelon, S. B., Youker, B. W., & Leon, M. P. (2019). Chapter 14: Hospice and End of Life Care. In Lihua Huang, Sally Pelon, Scott Berlin (Ed.), Anti-Ageism Social Work. (pp. 1-28). ScholarWorks.

Pelon, S. B. (2019). Dementia Detection, Assessment, and Intervention. In Lihua Huang, Sally Pelon, Scott Berlin (Ed.), Anti-Ageism Social Work. ScholarWorks.

Pelon, S. B. (2019). Hospice and End-of-Life Care. In Lihua Huang, Sally Pelon, Scott Berlin (Ed.), Anti-Ageism Social Work. (pp. 1-28). ScholarWorks.

Pending Publication

Pelon, S. B. Working with Hospice Patients: Johanna Carey. In Jerry Johnson, George Grant, Jr. (Ed.), Clinical Practice in Health Care: A Case Book.

Working Paper

Pelon, S. B. Best Practice in Health Care. In Jerry Johnson, George Grant, Jr. (Ed.), Clinical Practice in Health Care: A Case Book.

Pelon, S. B. Physiological Changes in Aging. In Lihua Huang, Sally Pelon, Scott Belin (Ed.), Anti-Ageism Social Work. ScholarWorks.

Refereed Journal Articles

Published

Pelon, S. B. (2020). Building Resilience as a New Social Worker. The New Social Worker, 27(3), 8

Pelon, S. B. (2017). Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction in Hospice Social Work. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 13(2-3), 134-150, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15524256.2017.1314232

Hughes, A. K., Rostant, O. S., & Pelon, S. B. (2015). Sexual Problems Among Older Women by Age and Race. Journal of Women's Health, 24(8), 21

Hughes, A. K., Waters, P., Herrick, C. D., & Pelon, S. B. (2014). Notes from the field: Developing a support group for older lesbian and gay community members who have lost a partner. LGBT Health, 1(4), 323-326, doi: 10.1089

Presentations 

Pelon, S.B., (Presenter and Author).  Art and Science of Aging Conference. 
“Age-Related Transitions: Practical Support.  Grand Valley State University, Grand 
Rapids, MI (February 24, 2023) 

Pelon, S. B., Continuing Education Seminar, "Understanding Loss and Grief," Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI. (October 1, 2021).

Pelon, S. B. (Presenter & Author), Berlin, S. J. (Presenter & Author), & Villarreal, M. (Presenter & Author), Advancing Teaching and Learning, "Digital Gero-Badges: An Alternative in Teaching Diversity and Social Justice," Lilly Conference, Traverse City, MI. (October 18, 2019).

Pelon, S. B. (Presenter & Author), & Huang, L. (Presenter & Author), 14th Annual Art & Science of Aging Conference, "Sexual Health Promotion in Long-term Care," Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. (February 22, 2019).

Pelon, S. B., Continuing Education Seminar, "Final Journey: Psychosocial Aspects of Terminal Illness and the Dying Process," Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI. (September 28, 2018).

Borst, J. (Presenter & Author), & Pelon, S. B. (Presenter & Author), Art and Science of Aging Conference, "An Alternative to Lonely Living," Grand Valley State University, GVSU. (February 17, 2017).

Pelon, S. B., Continuing Education Seminar, "Aging, Loss, and Grief: Practical Interventions," Michigan State University. (April 16, 2016).

Pelon, S. B., Continuing Education Seminar, "Compassion Fatigue in End-of-Life Care," Michigan State University. (March 23, 2016).

Pelon, S. B., Social Work Continuing Education, "Aging, Loss, and Grief: Practical Interventions," Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. (April 12, 2014).

Research in Progress

"Best Practice in Social Work Health Care" (On-Going). (August 2022 - Present).
Best practice chapter for Health Care in Social Work Case Book edited by Jerry Johnson, PhD, and George Grant, PhD.

"Anti-Ageism Social Work" (On-Going). (January 2017 - Present).
Using human rights approach, this social work practice textbook presents the basic theoretical foundations and the practice methods and skills of gerontology in generalist social work practice settings. It pays particular attention to policy practice and a biopsychosocial-spiritual approach to engage, assess, and intervene individual elders, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Pedagogically, this textbook is intended to be part of open educational source environment.

Editorial Activity

Editor/Co-Editor, Textbook, "Anti-Ageism Social Work", GVSU SchalorWorks, Grand Rapids, United States, Textbook, Grand Valley State University. (2020).

TEACHING

Teaching Experience

Grand Valley State University
SW 150, Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare
SW 316, Interviewing in Social Work
SW 318, Generalist Practice II
SW 319, Social Welfare Policy and Services
SW 322, Responding to Chronic Illness
SW 333, Working with LGBT Community.
SW 341, Human Behavior Soc Environment
SW 344, Loss, Death, and Grief
SW 348, Professional Development in Social Work
SW 380, Special Topics in Social Work
SW 430, Social Work Research
SW 499, Independent Study in Social Work
SW 610, Social Welfare Policy and Services
SW 669, Grief, Loss, and Death
SW 680, Special Topics in Social Work
	
Directed Student Learning

Undergraduate Honors Thesis, “Life Satisfaction of Assisted Living Facility Residents.” School of Social Work. (August 28, 2023 to present). 

Master's Thesis Committee Member, "Talking About Death: Exploration of the Impact of Death Communication Norms on End-of-Life Caregivers," School of Social Work. (August 28, 2022 -April 27, 2023).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, "History of Hospice Care," School of Social Work. (May 9, 2022 - June 15, 2022).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, "Supporting our silenced care workers: Exploring the use of critical incident stress management interventions with certified nursing assistants in nursing homes," School of Social Work. (August 30, 2021 - April 27, 2022).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Examining Homelessness," School of Social Work. (January 18, 2021 - April 28, 2021).

Undergraduate Honors Thesis, “An Introspection into Hispanic Culture.” School of Social Work. (August 31, 2020 - December 12, 2020).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, "An Introspection into Hispanic Culture," School of Social Work. (January 6, 2020 - April 24, 2020).

Undergraduate Honors Thesis, School of Social Work. (August 2019 - December 2019).

Master's Thesis Committee Member, "The Breast Kind of Tattoos: A Study of Tattoos on Mastectomy Scars," School of Social Work. (May 2017 - March 2018).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Guardianship for the Frail Elderly," School of Social Work. (September 2017 - December 2017).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, "The Recovering Alcoholic, Addict, and Cross-Addicted," School of Social Work. (January 2017 - April 2017).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Exploration of DBT as an intervention for different mental illnesses.," School of Social Work. (August 2016 - December 2016).

Undergraduate Honors Thesis, "Non-Pharmacological Interventions with Dementia Patients," School of Social Work. (August 2016 - December 2016).

Undergraduate Honors Thesis, "Policy Analysis of Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women," School of Social Work. (September 2015 - April 2016).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, "Social Work in Ireland," School of Social Work. (January 2015 - April 2015).

Directed Individual/Independent Study, "A General Guide to Interculturally Competent Suicide Hotlines," School of Social Work. (January 2015 - April 2015).

SERVICE

University Service

Committee Member, FTLC Advisory Committee. (August 2022 - Present).

BSW Program Director. (January 2021 - Present).

Committee Chair, Curriculum Committee. (September 2023 - Present).

Committee Member, Curriculum Committee. (September 2021 – September 2023).

Committee Chair, Graduate Assistant Committee. (August 2020 – August 2023).

Committee Member, Graduate Assistant Committee. (September 2017 - August 2020).

Committee Member, CECI By Laws Committee. (August 2021 - July 2022).

Committee Chair, Affiliate Faculty Search Committee. (January 10, 2022 - April 28, 2022).

Committee Member, CCPS College Advisory Committee. (August 2019 - August 2021).

Committee Member, BSW Application Reader. (February 2018 - December 2020).

Committee Member, Rigor Committee. (October 2016 - March 2020).

Committee Chair, Hooding and Pinning Ceremony Committee. (August 2016 - August 2019).

Committee Member, Faculty Search Committee. (September 2016 - April 2017).

Committee Member, Hooding and Pinning Ceremony Committee. (September 2015 - April 2016).

Professional Service

Member, Greater Grand Rapids End of Life Coalition, Grand Rapids, MI. (January 2018 - Present).

Liaison for GVSU Interprofessional Palliative Care Certificate, Spectrum Health Hospice and Palliative Care. (June 2016 - May 2017).

Supervisor, Brookdale Senior Living. (August 2012 - August 2014).