Rosalie (Jordan) Ackerman traveled an amazing journey from being raised on a pig farm (where she played accordion in the family band and baled hay more efficiently than the men) to becoming a highly respected neuropsychologist. She attended a one-room school until she started high school, where she wore number 34 on the women’s varsity basketball team. In 4H, she prepared prizewinning calves, and was recognized with blue ribbons for citizenship, exhibitions, and service. The first member of her family to go to college, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Food & Nutrition & Related Sciences, followed immediately by her Master of Science degree in Biochemistry. As a biochemist, she was granted 2 patents for maltose production and conducted some of the basic research that eventually led to the development of Viagra. While working as a biochemist, Rosalie was an active elder in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where she often found herself called to provide counseling. Recognizing that she was not fully prepared for this, Rosalie went back to school, while raising her three children, and pursued her Doctor of Philosophy degree in psychology. Always practical in her approach to life, Dr. Ackerman’s doctoral dissertation on women changing careers in midlife was published in Psychology of Women Quarterly and presented at professional conferences. That work could be useful for anyone making a shift in life direction.

As a neuropsychologist, Dr. Ackerman taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pennsylvania State University, and Capella University. She practiced at John Umstead Hospital in North Carolina, Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital in Pennsylvania, and in Ohio at Mount Carmel Medical Center, Timken Mercy Medical Center, and Ackerman Rehabilitation Neuropsychological Services. A consummate teacher, she gave professional presentations from Florida to Washington state to Massachusetts to California, as well as in Canada and Nigeria. When she recognized that many of the established neuropsychological tests did not directly provide information needed for patients to benefit from individualized rehabilitation, she collaborated with her mentor and colleague, Martha E. Banks, Ph.D., to develop and refine the Ackerman-Banks Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Battery. Dr. Ackerman started writing and publishing professionally as a biochemist and continued as a psychologist with over 100 publications and even more presentations and workshops. Dr. Ackerman experienced trauma and abuse in several areas of her life; much of her work in psychology was in support of women victims as she helped them move to safety, survival, and thriving.

Rosalie has been in Sigma Xi (science honorary society) since 1964, from the beginning of her biochemistry career. When Rosalie was a psychology graduate student, she served as an elected officer of the National Council on Family Relations, which recognized her as Student of the Year. She held several elected offices in the American Psychological Association (APA) and served as a reviewer for professional journals. Twice, she co-chaired the annual convention program committee for the Society for the Psychology of Women, an APA Division. The APA honored her as a Fellow and she received presidential citations and distinguished service awards from APA’s Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and the Society for the Psychology of Women.

Dr. Ackerman made many connections, using knowledge from multiple fields. She co-led the very first APA continuing education workshop on how psychologists can integrate personal computers into clinical practice. She brought her knowledge of biochemistry into the consideration of prescription privileges for psychologists, with particular attention to the impact on women.

A deeply religious woman, Rosalie observed that many residents in her assisted living community had unopened decorative Bibles on their coffee tables. She coordinated with staff and led a well-attended weekly Bible study, with each week’s readings in the community’s calendar and on its bulletin board. She continued to lead Bible study when she entered a nursing home.

She leaves behind an eclectic international family of blood relatives, friends, mentors, mentees, clients, colleagues, pastors, congregants, musicians, Sunday school students, health care providers, and more. We will miss Rosalie, Dr. A., Sister Rosalie, Dockerman, Ms. Rodadee, Rosie, Arjay, but take comfort in knowing that her caring and her loving attention to everyone she met and everything she did will long be remembered and positively influence people for generations to come.

In her honor, please wear red, purple, or pink. Please make donations to the Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center (974 E Market St, Akron, OH 44305) or another victim support program.