 |
|
|
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Todd Kluss |
Knight Named New Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences Editor
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the country’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — has named Bob G. Knight, PhD, of the University of Southern California as the next editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, effective January 2012.
“We are very pleased to have Dr. Knight assume the position of editor,” said Thomas Hess, PhD, chair of GSA’s Publications Committee. “He is a well-respected gerontological researcher who has an appreciation for the diversity of both the approaches and topics associated with the study of psychological aspects of the aging process. I anticipate that he will continue building the reputation of the journal as the premier outlet for research in the field.”
The Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, published by Oxford Journals on behalf of GSA, contains peer-reviewed articles on the psychological aspects of aging in areas such as attitudes, clinical applications, cognition, education, emotion, health, human factors, interpersonal relations, neuropsychology, perception, personality, physiological psychology, social psychology, and sensation.
“It is an honor to be named editor of this prestigious journal that is a leader in psychological science of aging,” Knight said. “I look forward to continuing the tradition of previous editors in bringing psychological science to bear on key issues in gerontology as we baby boomers age into our later years.”
At the University of Southern California, Knight is the associate dean of the Davis School of Gerontology, the Merle H. Bensinger Professor of Gerontology, and a professor of psychology at the Davis School of Gerontology and the Department of Psychology. He also serves as director of the Tingstad Older Adult Counseling Center.
Knight’s current research interests include cultural difference in stress and coping models used to understand family caregiving, age differences in the effects of emotion on cognition, and the assessment and facilitation of wisdom in older adults. Knight has been active in various professional organizations relating to psychology and aging. He served as the president of Section II, Division 12 (clinical geropsychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1997; president of APA Division of Adult Development and Aging from 2003 to 2004; and chair of the APA Committee in Aging in 2001. In 2006, he co-chaired the National Conference on Training Models in Clinical Geropsychology. In 2008, he helped to organize and served as founding chair of the Council of Professional Geropsychology Training Programs.
Knight has received both the 2007 APA Division 20 M. Powell Lawton Distinguished Contribution Award in Applied Gerontology and the 2009 APA Committee on Aging Award for the Advancement of Psychology and Aging.
He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Indiana University. His professional experience in working with older adults began while working at the Urban League of Madison County (Indiana), where he organized and served as first president of the Madison County Council on Aging in 1973.
Knight is a GSA fellow, the highest class of membership within the Society.
###
The Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences is a refereed publication of The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), 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 5,400+ 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.
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.