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For Immediate Release
July 1, 2010

Contact: Todd Kluss
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(202) 587-2839

The Gerontological Society of America Elects Newest Officers

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — is proud to announce its newest elected officers. These individuals were chosen by GSA’s membership, which consists of over 5,200 researchers, educators, and practitioners.

The officers are responsible for matters of governance and strategic planning and represent the Society’s four professional sections as well as its Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization.

They will formally assume their new roles during GSA’s 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 19 to 23, 2010, in New Orleans, LA. Full details of this conference are available at www.geron.org/2010.

GSA President-Elect
Nancy A. Whitelaw, PhD
National Council on Aging

Biological Sciences Section Chair-Elect
William Sonntag, PhD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Health Sciences Section Chair-Elect
Donna Bliss, PhD, RN, FAAN
University of Minnesota School of Nursing

Social Research, Policy, and Practice Section Chair-Elect
Nina Silverstein, PhD
University of Massachusetts Boston

Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS) Section Chair-Elect
Toni Calasanti, PhD
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
BSS Section Members-at-Large
Jack McArdle, PhD
University of Southern California

Laura Sands, PhD
Purdue University

Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhD
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization (ESPO) Chair-Elect
Chivon Mingo, MA
University of South Florida

ESPO Secretary
Candace Brown, MA, MEd
Seasons of Life, LLC

ESPO Technology Chair-Elect
Julie Brown, MEd
University of Kentucky

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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,200+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA’s structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society, and an educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

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Mildred M. Seltzer Distinguished Service Recognition

Presented to C. Joanne Grabinski, PhD, Eastern Michigan University, and Mary Alice Wolf, PhD, Saint Joseph University.

This award honors colleagues who are near retirement or recently retired. Recipients are individuals who have been actively involved in AGHE through service on committees, as elected officers, and/or have provided leadership in one of AGHE’s grant-funded projects.

Administrative Leadership Award

Presented to Tammy M. Bray, PhD, Oregon State University

This award honors administrators on AGHE member campuses who have made exceptional efforts in support of gerontology or geriatrics education.

David A. Peterson Gerontology & Geriatrics Education Best Paper of the Volume Award

Presented to Nina M. Silverstein, PhD, University of Massachusetts Boston; Elizabeth Johns, MS, University of Massachusetts Boston; and Judith A. Griffin, MA, MS, University of Massachusetts Boston, for the article “Students Explore Livable Communities.” Honorable mention is given to Emily J. Robbins, MS, Miami University; Jennifer M. Kinney, PhD, Miami University; and Cary S. Kart, PhD, Miami University, for the article “Promoting Active Engagement in Health Research: Lessons Learned from an Undergraduate Gerontology Capstone Course.”

The purpose of this award is to recognize excellence in scholarship in academic gerontology in AGHE’s official journal, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education.

Graduate Student Paper Award

Presented to Deborah Gray, MBA, University of Massachusetts Boston, for the paper “Weight and Wealth: The Relationship between Obesity and Net Worth for Pre-Retirement Age Men and Women.”

This award acknowledges excellence in scholarly work conducted by an AGHE Annual Meeting student attendee.

Book Award for Best Children’s Literature on Aging

Presented to Caitlin Dale Nicholson and Leona Morinn-Nelson for “Niwechihaw/I help” in the primary reader (pre-K to 2nd grade) category, and Ann Grifalconi and Jerry Pickney for “Ain’t Nobody A Stranger to Me” in the elementary reader (3rd to 5th grade) category.

This award recognizes portrayals of meaningful aging in children’s literature.