Member Spotlight

Q&A with Urrikka Woods-Scott, Bachelor of Science in Gerontology – Long Term Care Administration from Washington, DC.

Q: How long have you been a member and how does GSA assist you with your professional development?
A: I became a member of GSA as a graduate student at the University of South Florida in 2006. GSA served as the catalyst for my professional development and led me to my first internship in the field of aging. At the Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando that year, I attended the Newcomers Breakfast and later a reception for Sigma Phi Omega. During the reception, I met Dr. Betsy Sprouse (Former Director of AARP’s Office of Academic Affairs) and expressed my interest and passion in working on aging policy and advocacy. She encouraged me to apply for an internship that summer. I was later fortunate to have been selected to be in that year's intern cohort and worked for the Office of Diversity & Inclusion.

Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: Interestingly, I was in a managerial accounting course realizing that I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life when it “clicked” that the field of aging could work for me. I was a junior in the College of Business majoring in Accounting, when I learned of the Gerontology program and majors at USF. A classmate/friend told me about the B.S. track that she was on which prepares students to become Nursing Home Administrators. I thought that would be a perfect fit given that it combined business skills with interdisciplinary courses in sociology/psychology/counseling/etc. I have always enjoyed being around older adults, even considered to have been an “old soul” by family members and had a desire for entrepreneurship. I quickly changed my major and never looked back. I actually converted two other classmates to join me in the program.

Q: What are your key responsibilities at your job?
A: In 2012, I launched my own business, UBW Senior Solutions, LLC. It is a life and career coaching practice that specializes in lifestyle transitions with a mission to empower all, educate families, and engage communities around innovative solutions on aging.  Given the rise of the coaching profession as an industry, I noticed that there was a void of gerontology-trained coaches to serve the needs of Boomers and their families. The Aging Boomer would more likely favor hiring a Geriatric Care Coach rather than a Geriatric Care Manager. Boomers and generations that follow, don’t want their lives managed by others, but welcome the guidance and support a coach provides. In recognition of this shift, I created the Life Solutions CAKE™ (Creating Aging Knowledge & Experiences) Coaching Model to assess geriatric care needs through a life coach approach and develop action plans for healthy aging and well-being. Our motto is to take life’s opportunities and challenges by the slice and to celebrate each milestone’s achievement. More information can be found on www.ubwseniorsolutions.info.

I’m a passionate advocate for students and career changers interested in the field of aging seeking careers in a vast interdisciplinary field which requires they develop a niche to be successful. Through the lens of experience in carving my niche, I wrote Strategies to Successfully Surf the Age Wave to Your Ideal Career in Aging to coach them through identifying their niche and provide concrete steps to map a career path. More information can be found on www.agewavesurfers.com Please take our survey on the Career Attainment Experience of Professionals in Aging on the homepage. I also coach seasoned professionals in retirement seeking to return to the workforce with career specific interest assessments, resume writing, interviewing skills prep, and transferable skills mapping to encore careers. I’ve developed a unique niche with expertise in aging, life transitions, career development and coaching, and program research.

Q: What has been your most memorable experience in gerontology?
A: As a graduate research assistant with the Florida Mental Health Institute under the supervision of Dr. Amber Gum, I had my first opportunity to learn about the IRB process and conduct research in the community. In this role, I interviewed seniors for purposes of research, effectively administered psychological assessments like the mini-mental state exam, collected and analyzed data, as well as, assisted in developing a resource guide. This valuable experience gave me a strong foundation in key competencies that continues to bring me great success.

Q: Why is it important for other individuals to join GSA?
A: GSA serves as the hub of scholars on aging research, education, and practice. It is vital for students, emerging professionals, and established gerontologists that desire to be a part of the forward thinking on the impact aging will have on the world.

Q: Do you have any tips for emerging gerontologists?
A: Along with joining GSA, I would encourage them to also join other organizations such as American Society on Aging (ASA) and build local associations/groups of young/new professionals in aging like Chicago Bridge.

Q: Tell us a little about your most recent activities/accomplishments?
A: Prior to launching UBW Senior Solutions, I built my diverse career in aging by coordinating multiple social impact projects with national reach for the National Council on Aging (NCOA), National Academy of Sciences, and AARP in various roles. One of my proudest contributions to the field of aging was in creating and co-authoring NCOA's Savvy Saving Seniors™ financial education training for use by aging organizations nationwide.

Q: Have you had an important mentor in your career? If so, how did it make a difference?
A: I have been very fortunate to have had many mentors throughout my career and who continue to encourage me to grow in the field. They have made all the difference in my professional development. In valuing the need for mentorship, is what led me to define myself as a life coach to gerontologists and older adults. I give special thanks to Dr. Kathryn Hyer, Dr. Percil Stanford, Ms. Carmelita Tursi, Dr. Kimberly Acquaviva, and many others for their insight and wisdom over the years.

Want to ask Urrikka a question? Contact her!