HPPAE ALUMNI AND STUDENT COMMITTEE ON LEADERSHIP IN AGING

Why is training aging-educated professionals so important? Put simply: the population in America is aging rapidly. By 2030, the number of Americans 65 and over is projected to be twice as large as it was in 2000, growing from 35 million to 71.5 million. This will represent nearly 20 percent of the total U.S. population. Important advances in medicine in the past century have allowed many older adults to experience better health, adopt healthier lifestyles, and continue to make valuable contributions to their families and communities. Yet, as adults age, they are confronted by many challenges to their physical and cognitive functioning, forcing them to learn to navigate a new world of social supports and resources.

As increasing numbers of people live to be 70, 80, and beyond, demands for long-term health care, social services, and supportive living environments will expand, and many older adults and their families will struggle to access the services that they need. As a student or graduate of HPPAE, you are uniquely qualified to play a leadership role in helping to meet this need.

Announcing the inaugural HPPAE Alumni and Student Committee on Leadership in Aging

In October 2008, the Committee on Leadership in Aging was convened to spearhead the effort to create a network that supports the on-going leadership development of HPPAE students and alumni and to enhance the awareness of the social work profession in aging, overall. Seventeen members were selected for their talent, demonstrated leadership capacity, and dedication to the field, from a competitive pool of applicants. These are the members and their affiliated graduate school of social work (click here to read full bios):

Cindy Arispe, University of Houston
Nicole Back, Baylor University
Jess Bartlett, University of Kansas
Hope Burnette Melton, Virginia Commonwealth University
Morgan Gable, University of Michigan
Kate Geitner, University of Michigan
Rachel Gill, University of Texas, Austin
Jennifer Greenfield, Saint Louis University
Jaclyn Grogan, University of Montana
Tammie Morley, University of Albany
Cynthia Mullins, University of Kentucky
Jessica Myers, California University of Pennsylvania
Diana (Davida) Nugiel, Rutgers University
Amanda Ripke, Ohio State University
Joanna Saisan, University of California, Los Angeles
Mary B. Sheridan, University of Kansas
Oli Soto, University of Chicago

The Committee is charged to move forward three areas of work to strengthen the HPPAE network of alumni, students, and beyond: 1) Outreach and Communications, 2) creating a newsletter; and 3) establishing a national journal featuring HPPAE student and alumni research on aging. Do expect to hear from this committee about how you can get involved!

If you have any feedback or suggestions for activities you would like this committee to consider, please feel free to contact any one of the members or email Jarmin Yeh, Program Strategy Associate, jyeh@nyam.org.