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Shannon is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and as such, has worked with groups of all ages, ranging from pre-school and school-age children with special needs to older adults, including those with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. Shannon is also a Certified Activity Director and has extensive work experience as an activity director and music therapist in various long-term care facilities. She is also a Neurologic Music Therapist and is a member of the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. Currently, in addition to her doctoral studies, Shannon contracts with the Music Institute of Lexington as a Music Therapist. Her current research and educational interests include: music therapy, the effects of music on the aging brain, the life course perspective, neuropsychology, demography and population studies, and how music can help improve and maintain cognitive functioning and memory for older adults.
Recent Presentations
Holmes, H.H. & Bowles, S.L. (2004). Relocation to Semi-Rural Senior Housing: Who Moves and How do they Fare? Symposium paper will be presented at the Annual Southern Gerontological Society Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
Bowles, S.L. (March 2004). The Therapeutic Uses of Music. Presented to Breast Cancer Support Group, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Bowles, S.L. (February, 2004). Music Therapy and Older Adults. Presented to Kentucky Public Retirees, Frankfort Regional Chapter, Frankfort, Kentucky.
Bowles, S.L. (November, 2003). Music Therapy: A Bridge over Troubled Water. Presented at Moving Towards the Threshold: Best Practices In End-of-Life Care, one day conference sponsored by Hospice of Northern Kentucky, Ft. Thomas, Kentucky.
Bowles, S.L. (13 May, 2003). Lexington Senior Citizens Center: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century. Presented to Lexington Fayette Urban County Government City Council Meeting, Lexington, Kentucky.
Radio/Newspaper Interviews
Saunders, M. (8 October, 2003). Institute uses music as therapy. Lexington Herald-Leader, E1; E3.
Bowles, S.L. & Towsley, G.L. (13 May, 2003). Comments on the Lexington Senior Citizens Center. Public Radio throughout Central Kentucky.
Professional Committees
Chair of the State Education Committee for the Music Therapy Association of Kentucky (MTAK) (October 2003 – Present)
Kentucky Representative on Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association (SER) Intern Scholarship Committee (May 2003 – Present)
Student member on the Steering Committee of the Ph.D. Program in Gerontology at the University of Kentucky (May 2003 – Present)