Q: How long have you been a GSA member?
A: I have been a GSA member since 1999 without interruption and I became Fellow in 2010.
Q: How specifically has membership in GSA benefitted you?
A: Being a member reinforces the feeling of being part of the gerontological community, which provides additional motivation to contribute to my field through research and mentorship.
Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: I find aging relatable. And more so as I get older.
Q: What projects are you working on in your current position?
A: I am most interested in improving the understanding of risk and protective factors for cognitive impairment and dementia, and among these, I study the roles of work and retirement most frequently. But, through mentoring PhD students and through various collaborations, I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of interesting projects such as conducting research with big data from a new mobile application designed to promote cognitive health called Terrapino, testing novel blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease, helping to understanding environmental correlates of SuperAging, the role of sleep in health and aging, etc. As Administrative Core Lead of the ASU Roybal Center, I also get to help coordinate pilot studies aimed at uncovering new, technology-related ways to help older adults who live alone and are experiencing cognitive difficulties.
Q: What do you love most about your line of work?
A: Probably that I get to do something that may have a lasting impact, however small. I also enjoy the discovery. I am naturally curious, and I get to study aspects of aging that continue to open my eyes to new possibilities.
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: Make every day count.