Dr. Mary Marshall

Mary Marshall, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Gerontology at Long Beach State University, and current president of the California Council on Geriatrics and Gerontology. Dr. Marshall teaches graduate level aging courses that cover policy, dementia, dying, and health assessments. She manages internship students, graduate students completing research, and is the faculty advisor for the Gerontology Club. Her research explores how older adults adjust to moving, the role and culture of grandparenting, and how to promote wellness in assisted living communities. Dr. Marshall received the Emerging Leader Award in 2019 and the Center on Aging and the Life Course Outstanding Professor Award in 2023. She received a dual-title Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies & Gerontology from Purdue University in 2018.

 

 

  • Aging well
  • Social health and wellbeing
  • Grandparenting
  • Student motivation and learning

  • Social health and wellbeing in transitions to long-term care
  • Role and culture of grandparenting
  • Alumni support

Marshall, M., & Duarte, E. (2025) The Changing Role of Grandparents in A. Ermer & A. Roach (Eds.), An Introduction to the History of Human Development and Family Science. Routledge. 

Marshall, M., Majeske, A. J., Humble, A., Yorgason, J. B. (2024). Fathering in Later Life: Evolving Roles, Health Implications, and Gaps. NCFR Report: Family Focus.

Marshall, M., *Duarte, E., *Tran, R. (2022). The who, why, what, and how of moving into assisted living: Older adults’ decision-making for relocation. Journal of Aging and Environment. 10.1080/26892618.2022.2158510

Marshall, M., Dobbs-Oates, J., Kunberger, T., Greene, J. (2021). The peer mentor experience: Benefits and challenges in undergraduate programs. Mentoring and tutoring: Partnership in Learning. DOI: .

Marshall, M. Shields, C.G., Alexander, S.C. (2021). Do You Smoke? Physician–patient conversations about smoking and lung cancer. Journal of Cancer Education. DOI: 10.1007/s13187-021-02067-2

Shields C. G., Griggs J. J., Fiscella K. A., Elias C. M., Christ S. L., Colbert J., Henry S. G., Hoh B. G., Hunte H.E. R., Marshall M. E., Mohile S. G., Plumb S., Tejani M. A., Venuti A., Epstein R. M. (2019). The Influence of Patient Race and Activation on Pain Management in Advanced Lung Cancer:  A Randomized Field Experiment. Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Franks, M. M., Richards, E. A., McDonough, M. H., Christ, S. L., Marshall, M. (2018). Walking for our health: A couple-focused physical activity intervention. International Journal on Health Promotion and Education.

Elias, C. M., Shields, C. G., Griggs, J. J., Fiscella, K., Christ, S. L., Colbert, J., Henry, S. G., Hoh, B. G., Hunt, H. E. R., Marshall, M., Mohile, S. G., Plumb, S., Tejani, M. A., Venuti, A., Epstein, R. (2017). The Social and Behavioral Influences (SBI) Study: Study design and rationale for studying the effects of race and activation on cancer pain management. BMC Cancer. 17(1), 575.

Watkins, N., Fedesco, H., Marshall, M. (in press). Student perceptions and performance in online versus flipped diversity courses: Is there too much distance in distance learning? Journal of Excellence in College Teaching.

  • GERN 400: Perspectives on Gerontology
  • GERN 430/530: Aging and Dementia
  • GERN 482/582: Health Assessment in the Aging Client
  • GERN 440/540: End of Life Issues
  • GERN 450/550: Social Policy and Aging
  • GERN 492/592: Internship in Gerontology