Member Spotlight

Q&A with Yujun Liu, Master of Social Work Candidate 2013 from St. Louis, MO.

Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: I spent my childhood with my grandparents, and they gave me the deepest love I have ever had.  I also had a good relationship with many older adults who lived in our neighborhood. After high school I entered China Agricultural University (CAU) and majored in Public Administration. During my undergraduate study, I conducted research in community senior services. I also volunteered at the Elderly College of Zhifu District in Yantai China. My volunteer experience increased my interest and confidence in studying gerontology. I not only helped the older adults register for classes and assisted in English and Chinese painting classes, but I also formed close relationships with them. They loved to tell me the stories of their life, and I loved listening to them. I learned as much from these older adults as they learned from me.

After graduating from CAU, I chose to study social work at Brown School in Washington University, St. Louis with a concentration in gerontology. I took the Research Method class taught by Professor Nancy Morrow-Howell, and I was really impressed by her passion and hard work in the area of aging. As my experiences increased, my dream turned into a clear goal: to raise society’s awareness of and concern for the older adults living in difficult conditions and to help create a new system that can improve their quality of life.

Q: What are your key responsibilities at school?
A: I am a MSW student, and one of my responsibilities is to complete my graduate study. I am also an intern at GSA, and my responsibility is to assist with the advancement of the GSA China Initiative, which includes: research, translation, marketing, communication and other activities.

Q: What has been your most memorable experience in gerontology and aging research?
A: The most memorable experience is the internship I had at GSA. I work with Jilan Chen in the China Initiative program, and this is also an independent study with Nancy Morrow-Howell in Washington U. The mission of my work is to promote GSA and gerontology research in China.  I have done research of the Social Work programs in universities and NGOs that serve older adults in China, and collected the information of the scholars who are interested in the field of aging. I also translated the basic information of our website into Chinese, and helped with the collaboration between GSA and universities and NGOs in China.

Q: How do you feel GSA serves the field of gerontology and aging research?
A: GSA provides a great platform for people who are interested in gerontology to communicate with each other. GSA members can get updated information in the field of aging and have the chance to know many gerontological experts.

Q: Tell us a little about your most recent activities/accomplishments?
A: During my second semester in Washing U, I did my foundation practicum in the National MS Society Gateway Area Chapter and worked in the Long Term Care program. I helped with planning and assisting outings for the residents living in the Long Term Care Facilities and helped them get more social support. I also worked on improving the Wheel Chair Tai Chi Program. I did research on Wheel Chair Tai Chi, which was performed during the opening ceremony in the 2008 Paralympics, and I made a presentation for the residents to encourage them to participate. During this process, I applied what I learned in class to practicum.

Q: Have you had an important mentor in your career? If so, how did it make a difference?
A: I have many mentors in the field of aging. One is Professor Cheng Guiming from CAU. He was my teacher in Sociology class. His book “Sociology of Rural China” has strengthened my determination of studying social work. I found that the Social Security System in China still needs further improvement, as the interests of this vulnerable group still could not be well protected. I became particularly concerned about the unattended older adults in the countryside, which has caused growing concern of the society. Professor Nancy Morrow-Howell was my teacher in Research Methods class. I wrote a literature review about “depression among older Chinese immigrants” for the first assignment. She set up meetings with me and taught me how to summarize and write in my own words. That was the first paper I wrote at Brown School, and I felt so lucky that Nancy was my professor. I was deeply moved by her trust and help and I have strong feeling for studying gerontology. Ernest Gonzales is my teacher in Theory and Issue in Aging class. Whenever I feel confused about the class or practicum, he is always willing to help. He also introduced Dani Kaiserman at GSA to me, and that’s how I came here.