Q: How long have you been a GSA member?
A: I have been a GSA member at various points throughout my professional life, most recently since 2023.
Q: Do you have a GSA resource that has been your “go-to” for keeping you engaged with the Society?
A: My go-to GSA resource is the Interest Groups. They provide outstanding opportunities to learn from experts, stay current on emerging research and best practices, and connect with colleagues who share similar interests. Whether someone is new to the field or has decades of experience, the Interest Groups offer valuable resources, meaningful discussions, and a strong sense of community.
Q: In what ways has membership in GSA benefitted you?
A: GSA has helped me grow professionally by keeping me connected to the latest research, innovations, and conversations in aging and gerontology. It has also empowered me to continue mentoring and guiding students as they explore careers and research opportunities related to aging.
One of my greatest honors has been serving as the founding advisor of the Miami Dade College GSA Student Chapter. Helping students discover the field of gerontology and recognize the importance of aging across disciplines is both a privilege and a responsibility that I take very seriously. Earlier in my career, I was also honored to be recognized as a GSA Predoctoral Leadership Fellow, an experience that further strengthened my commitment to the field.
Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: As long as I can remember, aging has fascinated me because it allows me to approach questions through an interdisciplinary lens that brings together psychology, neuroscience, caregiving, workforce development, and community engagement.
On a personal level, I was fortunate to have close relationships with grandparents and great-grandparents who lived into their nineties. Their lives helped me appreciate both the diversity and individuality of the aging experience.
Professionally, I was incredibly fortunate to learn from and work alongside remarkable researchers and practitioners whom I deeply admire. My experiences with the REACH and CREATE programs at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging formerly Center on Aging at the UM shaped my understanding of aging and reinforced my passion for the field. Those experiences continue to inspire my work today.
Q: What do you love most about your line of work?
A: What I love most is teaching psychology through the lens of applied gerontology and helping students see how they can make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Through service-learning experiences, students work directly with older adults, caregivers, and families. Watching them become engaged, inspired, and passionate about this work is incredibly rewarding. Some students tell me, “This is what I want to do for a living,” and those moments remind me why this work matters.
Helping undergraduate students discover aging and gerontology early in their academic journeys, and empowering the next generation of professionals, researchers, and advocates, is truly one of the greatest joys of my career
Q: What projects are you working on in your current position?
A: I founded the College Credit Certificate in Mental Health, Neuroscience, and Aging at Miami Dade College (MDC) to help prepare the next generation of professionals interested in aging, neuroscience, mental health, and workforce development.
In addition to teaching, I mentor undergraduate students engaged in aging-related research, neuroscience, and psychology. Current projects include topics such as artificial intelligence and social isolation among older adults, AI and healthcare, AI and health literacy, and AI-related workforce issues, including combating Ageism in the workplace. Through these experiences, students gain early exposure to research while exploring real-world challenges facing an aging society.
Q: What was the best piece of advice you got early on in your career you’d like to pass on to emerging gerontologists?
A: Take this journey one day at a time, one practicum at a time, one client at a time, and one research project at a time. Do not rush through the experience. Learn, share, listen, and enjoy the process. Aging touches every profession and every community, so approach it through the lens of your own passion and expertise. Most importantly, let curiosity, compassion, and purpose guide your work. The relationships you build and the lives you impact along the way are what make this field so rewarding.