Q: How long have you been a GSA member?
A: I have been a member since 4/28/2021
Q: How specifically has membership in GSA benefitted you?
A: GSA has provided a valuable platform for mentorship, networking through groups like ESPO, and collaborative opportunities. As a member, I have had the privilege of connecting with numerous researchers and scholars whose work and guidance have greatly influenced my journey. Being part of groups such as ESPO has been especially rewarding. These groups have facilitated various opportunities, including service roles, connections through Zoom and at the GSA conference, and leadership positions, such as serving as a Careers in Aging Day Ambassador. This role as a Career in Aging Day Ambassador at the GSA Annual Meeting is one of my favorites, as it allows me to share my passion for gerontology and highlight its significance in today’s world.
Additionally, my involvement in the dissertation writing group was transformative. It not only fostered a lifelong friendship with my fellow group members, but it also opened the door to future collaborative efforts aimed at advancing gerontological research.
Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: I believe my exposure to the field of aging stems from my cultural background. I am originally from Ghana, where intergenerational living is the norm, and I had the privilege of growing up with my grandmother at one point in my life. Years later, after earning my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and working as a therapist, I had the great honor of supporting a couple whose family was navigating a dementia diagnosis. This experience became a pivotal learning moment for me. As a therapist, I realized I lacked the specific skills and understanding needed to truly support the family through this challenging time. That experience inspired me to return to school to study gerontology, with a focus on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and the unique role of caregiving within this context. I wanted to understand aging better so I could provide better support in the future.
Q: What projects are you working on in your current position?
A: I recently graduated, and one of the key projects I was funded through the university to undertake during my PhD was examining stress and aspects of social functioning in older adult caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. In this research, I sought to explore various dimensions of caregiving and social functioning, including caregiver burden, loneliness, emotion regulation, the positive aspects of caregiving, and empathy, both among older adults and their caregivers. This project is currently ongoing.
I am currently working as a research project coordinator at the REACH Lab at Dartmouth College with Dr. Terri Lewinson, who happens to be a fellow in GSA. The lab focuses on the experience of home environments for people who have been marginalized—whether that may be in an extended-stay hotel, assisted-living facilities, or senior housing—to gain an intimate understanding of what it’s like for them to reside there. This work includes exploring the factors involved in residential mobility or why people transition into and out of different home environments. In addition, we also explore the impacts of environmental factors—such as exposure to toxins in non-traditional home environments and forced housing evictions exacerbated by COVID-19—on health and well-being.
This new position expands my research endeavors into looking at housing and health disparities across a lifespan. Our lab is involved in multiple projects. One of our big collaborative grants within the Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy and Clinical Practice is examining how residents in affordable housing navigate complex public and private services and how resident service coordinators may play a critical role in nationwide efforts to assist older adults to age in place. I am also helping to develop some psychosocial and psychological models and surveys within our current proposals as new measures as we explore housing and health disparities across a lifespan.
Q: What do you love most about your line of work?
A: As an educator, I am passionate about being part of my students' journeys, helping them develop knowledge and skill sets that extend far beyond the classroom. It’s always rewarding to hear students discussing what they’ve learned in everyday conversations or applying concepts to real-life situations. Ultimately, my goal is to make a lasting impact that reaches beyond the walls of the classroom.
As a researcher, I’ve experienced tremendous growth over the years, and the discoveries we continue to make never cease to fascinate me. The ideas we generate in grant proposals, the problems we aim to solve, and the people we encounter along the way all contribute to this exciting journey of research. What I love most, however, is working with people. During my caregiving research for my dissertation, the individuals I met became my greatest motivators. Their stories, courage, vulnerability, and unwavering support not only inspired me to keep going but also deepened my understanding of the critical need for research in this field. They gave new meaning and value to the work I do.
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: "What we do as gerontologists is not just for the benefit of older adults, but for the benefit of us all, because we are all aging, no matter how young we are." I can’t remember who said this or where I first heard it, but it has always stuck with me. The truth is that the work we do as gerontologists is not only crucial for older adults but benefits everyone, regardless of age. Our research and efforts are ongoing, and what we discover today may be the key to helping future generations thrive. Let’s continue to collaborate and work tirelessly to create a world where healthy aging is the norm.