Professional of the Year - Government/Social Services

member photo

Elizabeth J. Keeler

Title: Ph.D.
Industry: Government/Social Services
Type of Organization: Nonprofit Social Service Organization
Major Product/Service: Providing social services to the citizens of Washington State including education, program and resource development, job-seeking workshops for welfare recipients, internship program, resource center and nonprofit programs
Expertise: Dr. Keeler has over 37 years industry experience and since retirement, has spent the past 6 years in volunteer positions. She was responsible for organizing and conducting informational workshops, elementary and high school teaching, rendering social services to single parents, managing the development of a resource center for single parents, collaborating with local social service agencies to identify service gaps and developing programs to serve unmet needs. She previously taught Home Economics and English at the high school level. Dr. Keeler designed and implemented a pilot project called "A Life Direction Project for Single Mothers Reported for Child Abuse and Neglect" and has served as a workshop facilitator in a Department of Social and Health Services program called, "Job Club". She has subsequently designed and implemented interventions and conducted research to determine their effectiveness.
Geographic Area of Distribution: National
Affiliations: Board Member, Eastern Washington University HOME Program (Helping Ourselves Means Education); Pioneer Circle, Spokane Women Helping Women; Co-Founder, Former Board Member, Support for Parents Overcoming Challenges; Eastern Washington Genealogical Society; Daughters of the American Revolution; Former Member, National Association of Social Workers
University/Degree: B.A.; M.A.; Home Economics, Washington State University; M.S., Applied Behavioral Science, Whitworth University; M.S.W.; M.P.A., Eastern Washington University; Ph.D., Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University
Born: Casper, Wyoming
Hobbies/Sports: Travel, reading, studying genealogy, writing, family history
Spouse: Arthur Keeler
Married: March 29, 1974
Children: Susan Ridley, Mary Nielsen, David Updike
Work History: Dr. Keeler formerly worked with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
Honors & Awards: Woman of Achievement Award for Community Service; Young Women's Christian Association
Published Works: Ph.D. Dissertation, "A Determination of Job-Finding Success for Welfare Recipients who Participated in a Job Club Program"
Career Accomplishments: Dr. Keeler attended international social welfare conferences in Rome and Oslo and the International Women's Conference in Beijing.