Granger Cobb
Institute for Senior Living
Education. Data Analytics. Partnerships.
Solving real problems in real communities for real residents,
and those who serve them . . . in real time.
New! Senior Living Management Major
Senior Living is a growing, dynamic industry where residents 55+ make their homes in independent, assisted living, or memory care communities. This residential model promotes active, social interaction among residents and their families, while providing a safe and caring environment. Managers and professional staff make a positive difference for residents and enhance the quality of their lives on a daily basis. This degree will prepare students for:
- Managerial positions and upward mobility in an industry that is nearly recession-proof
- Purposeful work on a daily basis and throughout your career
- Careers in a growing industry as the Baby Boomers move in
- Training in sound business fundamentals, with a focus on hospitality operations
- A very rewarding work-life balance
Where We Are
- Industry-driven courses and program of study focused on operational performance
- Partner with industry leaders to maintain curricular relevance and increase the number of professionals and students studying Senior Living Management
- Courses led by full-time, industry experienced instructors who connects real-world operations with best-in-class education
- Provide undergraduate students with immersive learning every semester at senior living communities
- Students gain real-world industry experience through the school’s 1,000 hour industry/ internship graduation requirement
WHERE THE INSTITUTE WILL TAKE US
- Serve as a source for research that will impact daily operations, improving lives for all stakeholders
- Partner with industry leaders to maintain curricular relevance within the senior living program at Washington State University
- Put Senior Living Management at the forefront of student career options
Who was Granger Cobb

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GRANGER COBB
Nearly 300 people gathered Oct. 30 on the Pullman campus to celebrate the naming of the Granger Cobb Institute for Senior Living. As one person after another took the stage and spoke through tears and laughter about Cobb’s caring nature, it became easy to understand why Washington State University named the institute after a man who left an indelible mark on the past and future of the senior living industry.
Photos from the Event
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Steering Committee
Industry Partners
Chris Belford
Chief Executive Officer, Sinceri Senior Living
Maribeth Bersani
Gerontologist, expert in Senior Living
Matt Bromen
Human Resources Director, ERA Living
Jason Childers
Vice President, Merrill Gardens
Adam Clark
Vice President of Growth Strategies, Aegis Living
Caitlin Cobb
Communications Manager, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation
Cassie Cobb
Director of Customer Support, One Legal
Patrick Dooley
Chief Operating Officer, Milestone Senior Living
Barb Duffy
Shareholder, Lane Powell
Mark Finkelstein
Columbia Bank, Director
Tanya Fitzgerald
Brookdale Senior Living, Vice President
Tana Gall
President, Merrill Gardens
Bre Grubbs
Executive Vice President, Leisure Care
Chris Guay
Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Vitality Senior Living
Justin Hutchens
Executive Vice President, Senior Housing at Ventas, Inc.
Chris Hyatt
President, New Perspective Senior Living
Bob Kramer
President & Founder at Nexus Insights. Founder & Strategic Advisor, NIC
Jerry Meyer
President Emeritus & Board of Directors, Aegis Living
Travis Palmquist
Vice President & General Manager, Senior Living PointClickCare
Bill Pettit
Partner, Black Dog Capital Advisors
Matt Reiners
Co-founder, Eversound
David Schless
President, American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA)
Mark Southern
Principal, Avalon Hospitality Partners
Pat Sylvia
Director, Leading Age Washington
Steve Tarr
Gartner EXP, Senior Executive Partner
Melanie Werdel
Columbia Pacific Advisors
Shamim Wu
Chief Operating Officer, UrgentMED
Faculty Fellows
Olusola Adesope
WSU Associate Professor, Kinesiology & Educational Psychology
Cory Bolkan
WSU Associate Professor, Human Development
Amanda D. Boyd
Associate Professor, The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
Michelle Carter
WSU Associate Professor, Carson College of Business
Robert Catena
WSU Associate Professor, Kinesiology & Educational Psychology
Minyoung Cerruti
WSU Instructor, Interior Design Program, School of Design & Construction
Jeffrey Clark
WSU Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Deborah Compeau
Sr Assoc Dean Faculty & Research of Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship, Carson College of Business
Diane Cook
WSU Chair/Professor, School of Electrical Eng & Comp Science
Rebecca L. Cooney
WSU Scholarly Associate Professor, The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
Julia Day
WSU Associate Professor of Construction Management, Director: Integrated Design & Construction Lab, School of Design and Construction
Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe
WSU Regents Professor, Department of Psychology
Shelly Fritz
WSU Professor of Nursing
Brian J. Gates
WSU Professor, College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mel Haberman
WSU Emeritus Faculty, College of Nursing
Laura Hill
WSU Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Affairs
WSU Chair/Professor, Human Development
Jenny Kim
WSU Professor, School of Hospitality Business Management
Zihui Ma
UNLV Hospitality, Assistant Professor In Residence (SHBM PhD Alumni)
Bidisha Mandal
Associate Professor & Extension Economist
Amy Meredith
WSU Interim Chair & Clinical Professor, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Lynne Nelson
WSU Professor, Veterinary Science
Paola Ossola
WSU Adjunct Faculty, César Ritz Colleges, Switzerland
Shikha Prashad
WSU Professor, Kinesiology & Educational Psychology
Mario Saba
Founder, Higher Hospitality Academy of Switzerland
Denise Snider
WSU Assistant Professor, School of Music
Catherine VanSon
WSU Professor, College of Nursing
Raven Weaver
WSU Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development
WSU Administrative Team
Darcie Bagott
Program Specialist
Cory Wolfenbarger
Adjunct Faculty
Michelle Snyder
CCB Assistant Director of Development
Nancy Swanger
Founding Director
Molly Wolniewicz
Adjunct Faculty
Help Support Us
In the News
United Nations Recognizes Nancy Swanger among World’s Top 50 Leaders in Senior Living
Granger Cobb Institute for Senior Living Wins National Award
Granger Cobb Institute for Senior Living Appoints Shelly Fritz as First Affiliate Faculty Member
Granger Cobb Institute joins Argentum’s National Senior Living Campaign
McNight’s 40 for 40: Granger Cobb
WSU launches Institute for Senior Living
Granger Cobb inducted into Senior Living Hall of Fame
Communities for the Golden Age
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