- Contact
- Academic History
- University of California, San Diego - BA, Psychology, 1982
University of Kansas – MA, Human Development, 1984
PhD, Developmental and Child Psychology, 1988
LCAC (Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor), Kansas
HS-BCP (Human Services Board Certified Practitioner)
MAC (Master Addiction Counselor), national certification
- Scholarly Interests/Activities
Dementia Care
Housing options for the elderly
Shared living alternatives (e.g., intergenerational homesharing, Green Houses, housing co-ops, cohousing, ecovillages, intentional communities)
- Service Interests/Activities
Board member, International Communal Studies Association
Former Board member and president, Communal Studies Association
Editorial Board, Communal Societies
- Career Accomplishments
Dr. Altus is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. She has published numerous articles on caregiving for people with dementia and on shared housing arrangements for older people (e.g., intergenerational home-sharing, housing cooperatives, congregate living, Green Houses, etc.). She graduated cum laude from the University of California, San Diego, receiving honors with high distinction from the Department of Psychology. She received pre- and post-doctoral training awards from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a Mary Switzer Research Fellowship award from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, and has worked on numerous research projects funded by organizations such as the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association. She has been inducted into the NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation) Hall of Fame as a Co-op Educator and received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Communal Studies Association. She is a former board member and President of the Communal Studies Association and a board member of the International Communal Studies Association. She is widely known for her study of intentional communities inspired by B. F. Skinner’s novel, Walden Two. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the Pi Chapter of TUA National Human Services Honor Society.
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2015-2016
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2018-2019
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2019-2020
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2020-2021
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2021-2022
Certificate of Inclusive Teaching and Learning 2021-2022
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2022-2023
Certificate of Inclusive Teaching and Learning 2022-2023
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2023-2024
Certificate of Inclusive Teaching and Learning 2023-2024
