UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Susan J. Loeb, professor in Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, has been named a distinguished professor in recognition of her impact on nursing science, education and practice.
The distinguished professor title honors outstanding academic contributions to the University and is designated by Penn State’s Office of Faculty Affairs.
Loeb is widely recognized for her work in palliative care, gerontological nursing and correctional health. Her research focuses on care delivery for aging incarcerated individuals, and has received support from major federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, including from the National Institute on Aging.
Initiatives in Loeb’s research portfolio include the “Just Care for Dementia” study and the “Inmates Care” e-training program. Through “Just Care for Dementia,” Loeb led the development and implementation of an online training program for prison staff and peer caregivers to support individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Similarly, “Inmates Care” focused on developing and testing an online program to train incarcerated individuals to help care for aging and dying peers.
Her work has translated into practice and policy, influencing how correctional systems across North America prepare staff and peer caregivers to provide compassionate, evidence-based care.
“Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Dr. Loeb’s work is its societal relevance. She has illuminated one of society’s most neglected populations while advancing health equity and justice,” said Marie Boltz, associate dean for research and innovation in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “Her work is emblematic of the nursing discipline at its best: rigorous science translated into compassionate practice with global impact.”
As director of the doctoral program, Loeb has revitalized curricula, increased enrollment, expanded research opportunities and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration. At the undergraduate level, she has been an active mentor in the Schreyer Honors College and has chaired four theses.
In addition to being named a distinguished professor, Loeb has received the Eastern Nursing Research Society President’s Award, the International Association of Forensic Nurses Achievement Award, and the Nightingale Award of Pennsylvania in Nursing Research. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the Gerontological Society of America.
“I am deeply appreciative of this honor,” Loeb said. “Penn State has shaped my career as a nurse and a scholar over four decades, so this recognition from the University is especially meaningful.”
A Penn State alumna, Loeb earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from the University before joining the Nese College of Nursing faculty in 2004.