Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization (ESPO)
of
The Gerontological Society of America
(formerly Student Organization)

• Campus Ambassador Page
• Grants/Fellowships
• ESPO Awards
• Careers in Gerontology
• Take a Closer Look at Funding Resources
• Publishing Tips for New Authors
• Notify ESPO of your Awards and Honors
• AGHE Resources for Students
• Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization Bylaws
• Membership Application

Information on Undergraduate Membership now available!

Information on Transitional Student Membership now available!

The Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization (ESPO) of the Gerontological Society was created in 1960 to provide students with an opportunity to be players in the field of gerontology. Initially the Society opened its membership to students to allow them to receive the Society's journals at reduced rates.

Today, student members of the Society enjoy full membership benefits and privileges at about the half the price of a regular membership. In addition to affiliation with a professional section, they belong to a vibrant and growing Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization with a voice on Council and representation throughout the Society structure. In 1999 students accounted for about one-sixth of the membership.

Over the years, the student leadership has had an active role in the development of programs and activities. They have helped stimulate the development of student awards and established a mentorship program to link students with more seasoned professionals. In 1995, the Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization helped launch the GSA/ESPO Campus Ambassador Program, designed to establish a professional/social network on every campus where there is, or should be, an active gerontology curriculum.

Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization Officers 2008

(*) Indicates member on Executive Committee

CHAIR

*Sarah A. Ruiz
University of Southern California
Department of Gerontology
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089
(717) 471-4668
sarahrui@usc.edu

CHAIR-ELECT

*Kara A. Bottiggi, PhD
Barrow Neurological Institute
222 West Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85013
(602) 406-4490
kara227@gmail.com

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR/FINANCE COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

*Kelly Niles-Yokum, PhD
Gerontology Studies Program
Colleges of Worcester Consortium
484 Main Street, Suite 500
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 754-6829 ext 3017
Fax: (508) 797-0069
knilesyokum@cowc.org

SECRETARY

*Marie L. McCormick, LCSW
Fordham University
Graduate School of Social Services
1327 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10128
(212) 996-0482
mariemccormick@consultant.com

TECHNOLOGY CHAIR/TASK FORCE ON ORGANIZATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTERS REPRESENTATIVE

*Abraham A. Brody, MS, RN
University of California
Scoal and Behavioral Sciences
3333 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 821-9391
ab.brody@ucsf.edu

HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

*Whitney L. Mills
University of South Florida
Department of Aging Studies
MHC 1305
Tampa, FL 33612
(813) 974-9439
wmills@cas.usf.edu

Joan E. Kole
AgeQuake Theatre
3519 Highcrest Road
Rockford, IL 61107-1305
(815) 398-8090
FAX: (815) 398-8090
jekdirector@rockriver.net

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

*Anthony L. Kupferschmidt
Simon Fraser University
Department of Gerontology
2800-515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 5K3
Canada
a_kupferschmidt@tricolour.queensu.ca

Amy R. Eisenstein, MA
University of Illinois at Chicago
Ctr for Research on Health/Aging
1747 W. Roosevelt
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 942-8155
aeisen3@uic.edu

PROGRAM COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

*Kara A. Bottiggi, PhD
Barrow Neurological Institute
222 West Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85013
(602) 406-4490
kara227@gmail.com


PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

Kimberly M. Bergen, BSN
University of Iowa
Collge of Nursing
400 Nb
50 Newton Road
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 335-9585
FAX: (319) 335-2836
Kimberly-bergen@uiowa.edu

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

*Samantha Solimeo, PhD, MPH
Duke University Medical Center
Center for the Study of Aging
Box 3003
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 208-2359
Fax: (919) 684-8529
solimeo@geri.duke.edu

Markus H. Schafer
Purdue University
Ernest C. Young Hall, Room 822
302 Wood Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2108
(765) 494-1631
mhschafer@purdue.edu

RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE (GSA)

*Megan R. Witte
University of Florida
College of Health
P.O. Box 100164
Gainesville, FL 32610-0164
(352) 317-4446
megwitte@gmail.com

RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVEN (AGHE)

*John S. Fecondo, MBA, MA
Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences
University of California
3333 California Streert, Suite 455
San Francisco, CA 94143-0612
(415) 476-3964
Fax:L (415) 476-6552
john.fecondo@ucsf.edu

TASK FORCE ON INTEREST GROUPS REPRESENTATIVE

*Sarah J. Yarry
Case Western Reserve University
Psychology Department
10900 Euclid Avenue
Mather Memorial #109
Cleveland, OH 44106-7123
(216) 368-1230
sjy@case.ed

Kimberly A. Petrovic, MSN, MA
P.O. Box 270066
West Hartford, CT 06127-0066
Kimberly.petrovic@uconn.edu

TASK FORCE ON MINORITY ISSUES IN GERONTOLOGY REPRESENTATIVE

*Paul A. Cernin
Wayne State University
Institute of Gerontology
87 East Ferry
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-2207
cerninp@wayne.edu

Zhen Cong, MS
University of Southern California
Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191
(213) 740-1392
zcong@usc.edu

TASK FORCE ON WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE

*Christine E. Collins
College of Holy Cross
Department of Psychology
Box 274
Worcester, MA 01610
(201) 410-0534
Fax: (201) 410-0534
cecoll08@holycross.edu

ESPO REPRESENTATIVE (AGHE)

*Eric A. Goedereis M.S.
Academic Advising Assistant
Life Span Developmental Psychology Doctoral Candidate Department of Psychology
1122 Life Sciences Building
Morgantown, WV 26506-6040
(304) 293-2001 X31665
eric.goedereis@mail.wvu.edu

ESPO DESIGNATE REPRESENTATIVE (AGHE)

Sarinnapha Vasunilashorn, BS
University of Southern California
Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191
(213) 821-2093
vasunila@usc.edu

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SECTION REPRESENTATIVES

*Anne Fosnacht
University of Illinois
1603 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612
(773) 220-4373
afosna2@uic.edu

Terrie A. Vasilopoulos, BS
Pennsylvania State University
Center for Developmental & Health Genetics
101 Amy Garnder House
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 865-4668
tav137@psu.edu

HEALTH SCIENCES SECTION REPRESENTATIVES

*Shayna E. Rich, MS
University of Maryland
Department of Epidemology
660 West Redwood Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 727-4585
srich003@umaryland.edu

Krista E. Garcia, BA
University of Southern California
Davis School of Gerontology
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191
(760) 617-9185
kegarcia@usc.edu

BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES SECTION REPRESENTATIVES

*Katherine S. Morris, MS
University of Illinois
338 Louis Freer Hall
906 South Gordon Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 332-2427
FAX: (217) 3333-3124
ksmorri1@uiuc.edu

Patrick J. Doyle, BA
909 Walker Avenue
Apt 2109a
Baltimore, MD 21228
(401) 508-0665
pdoyle@umbc.edu

SOCIAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE SECTION REPRESENTATIVES

*Kelly A. Mills-Dick, MSW
Boston University
School of Social Work
264 Bay State Road
Boston, MA 02215
(802) 375-1076
kellymillsdick@yahoo.com

Caroline Cicero, MSW
University of Southern California
Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089
(310) 621-5547
FAX: (213) 740-7069
cicero@usc.edu

STUDENT PAPER AWARD CHAIR

*Martinique M. Perkins
University of Alabama-Birmngham
1530 3rd Avenue S
CH 415
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205) 981-9052
mperki2@uab.edu