Dr. Elizabeth Locke is Executive Director and Associate Professor of Physical Therapy in the School of Physical Therapy in the Nathan Weiss Graduate College at Kean University. She was the first African American appointed to a full-time core physical therapy faculty position in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University and served as its Director of Clinical Education for 26 years. Dr. Locke received the University Designation of Faculty Emerita of Rehabilitation Sciences by the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors in 2020.
Dr. Locke’s research in health services focuses on provider influences on institutional and clinical organizational outcomes specific to health sciences education programs, clinical education technologies, profession diversity, and community-based outcomes within underserved populations. Dr. Locke values the role of the interdisciplinary research team including health professions students in identifying solutions to contemporary health care problems that impact the delivery of health care services. Dr. Locke’s research focuses on improving the organizational experience of physical therapy students. Dr. Locke’s published dissertation is entitled ‘Application of the Interactional Model of Cultural Diversity to Identify Diversity Climate Factors Associated with Organizational Effectiveness in Accredited U.S. Physical Therapist Education Programs.’ This groundbreaking study on the impact of diversity climate on organizational effectiveness measures including the percent and number of minority graduates supports the inclusion of minority faculty in graduate physical therapist education programs. Dr. Locke’s published manuscripts and abstracts are included in Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, Journal of Global Awareness, Journal of Pediatric Physical Therapy and Journal of Community Health. Dr. Locke co-authored a book chapter on Cultural Health Influences in Primary Preventive Dentistry, 8th ed.
Dr. Elizabeth Locke is the recipient of the 2019 Inside Business Outstanding Women in Business Achievement Award, Old Dominion University’s John R. Broderick Diversity Champion Award, Barbara Jordan Community Service Award and College of Health Sciences Outstanding Faculty Service Award; Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy Excellence in Governance Award, APTA Minority Faculty Development Scholarship Award, and The John L. Echternach Research Award. Dr. Locke received formal board training and graduated from the United Way of South Hampton Roads Project Inclusion Leadership Development Program. She was appointed by former Virginia Governor Terence McAuliffe to the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy on which she served two terms as Vice President. Her civic appointments have included VersAbility Resources BOD, Board Chair of Virginia Rural Health Association, and Virginia Delegate to Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
Dr. Elizabeth Locke earned her Ph.D. in Health Services Research from Old Dominion University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The American Physical Therapy Association, National Association of Black Physical Therapists, Inc., The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and The Alpha Eta Society. She is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Health Sciences Education, and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
