Granger Cobb
Institute for Senior Living
Education. Research. Service.
Serving as a transdisciplinary global institute
for operations excellence in senior living
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 clinical assistant professor, Scott Eckstein, 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
Read Full Story
Steering Committee
Industry Partners
Chris Belford
Executive Vice President, American Healthcare Investors
Maribeth Bersani
Matt Bromen
Human Resources Director, ERA Living
Adam Clark
Vice President of Growth Strategies, Aegis Living
Caitlin Cobb
Communications Manager, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation
Cassie Cobb
Director of Customer Experience, PrettyLitter
Patrick Dooley
Chief Operating Officer, Milestone Retirement Communities, LLC
Barb Duffy
Shareholder, Lane Powell
Mark Finkelstein
Columbia Bank, Director
Tana Gall
Chief Executive Officer, Blue Harbor Senior Living
Bre Grubbs
Senior Vice President, Leisure Care/180
Chris Guay
Founder & President, Vitality Senior Living
Justin Hutchens
Executive Vice President, Senior Housing, North America
Chris Hyatt
Chief Operations Officer, New Perspective Senior Living
Cindy R. Kent
EVP & President, Brookdale Senior Living
Bob Kramer
President & Founder at Nexus Insights. Founder & Strategic Advisor, NIC
Jerry Meyer
President Emeritus & Board of Directors, Aegis Living
Gary Milner
Canyon Ranch
Travis Palmquist
Vice President & General Manager, Senior Living PointClickCare
Bill Pettit
President, R.D. Merrill Company (Merrill Gardens)
David Schless
President, American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA)
Mark Southern
AVP Food and Beverage, VI Senior Living
Steve Tarr
Gartner EXP, Senior Executive Partner
Melanie Werdel
Columbia Pacific Advisors
Shamim Wu
Chief Operating Officer, Elmcroft Senior Living
Faculty Fellows
Olusola Adesope
WSU Associate Professor, Kinesiology & Educational Psychology
Cory Bolkan
WSU Associate Professor, Human Development
Robert Catena
WSU Assistant Professor, Kinesiology & Educational Psychology
Minyoung Cerruti
WSU Instructor, Interior Design Program, School of Design & Construction
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
Julia Day
WSU Assistant Professor of Construction Management, Director: Integrated Design & Construction Lab, School of Design and Construction
Maureen Edgecombe
WSU Professor, Psychology
Shelly Fritz
WSU Assistant Professor of Nursing
Mel Haberman
Executive Associate Dean and Director, College of Nursing
Laura Hill
WSU Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Affairs
WSU Chair/Professor, Human Development
Zihui Ma
UNLV Hospitality, Assistant Professor In Residence (SHBM PhD Alumni)
Bidisha Mandal
Associate Professor & Extension Economist
Deb Nelson
WSU Instructor, Human Development
Lynne Nelson
WSU Professor, Veterinary Science
Paola Ossola
WSU Adjunct Faculty, César Ritz Colleges, Switzerland
Shikha Prashad
WSU Assistant Professor, Kinesiology & Educational Psychology
Catherine VanSon
WSU Associate Professor, College of Nursing
Raven Weaver
WSU Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development
WSU Administrative Team
Darcie Bagott
Program Coordinator
Kelvin Chiang
SHBM Graduate Student
Michelle Snyder
CCB Assistant Director of Development
Nancy Swanger
Founding Director