Dr. Steven Fulks, director of the gerontology program, came to Barton College in the fall of 2003 from Bowling Green State University, where he directed their gerontology program. A native of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Fulks received his doctorate in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia where he worked on the Georgia Centenarian Study. He earned his master’s degree from the Center for Studies in Aging at the University of North Texas, with an internship served at the Texas Research Institute for Mental Sciences (TRIMS) at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. His undergraduate education includes a double major in Philosophy and Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University with University Honors.
Fulks began his teaching career in 1990 after eight years working in the aging field at the Knowles Senior Citizens Center in Nashville, Tenn., serving as the administrator of Croft House independent living in South Carolina, and working in community outreach at University Hospital in Augusta. College- and university-level teaching experience includes Utah State University; the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Bowling Green State University where he served on their graduate faculty and taught in the honors program.
In 2008, Fulks was honored for his work by the Upper Coastal Plain Area Agency on Aging. In 2006, he was recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina for his work in regional education and community support. The University of North Texas recognized Fulks as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2005. His community work was recognized by Otterbein Homes in 2001. He is a frequent speaker at caregiving conferences, workshops, and regional and national gerontology conferences. His research and publications focus on his work with centenarians, public health, communication disorders, and the blending of sports management and athletic training with gerontology.