Kent and Kleemeier Award Lecture Program Expands to Include James Jackson Outstanding Mentorship Award

One of my favorite sessions at the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting is the Donald P. Kent and Robert W. Kleemeier Award Lectures. It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear from the top scientists in our field and to celebrate the Society’s highest awards.

I am excited to announce a change to this session starting at our upcoming Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston. Four years ago, GSA elevated the James Jackson Outstanding Mentorship Award to be among GSA’s top three prestigious awards, alongside the Kent and Kleemeier Awards. To further elevate minority researchers in this challenging political and scientific climate, we are adding a new James Jackson Outstanding Mentorship Award Lecture to the session.

The James Jackson Outstanding Mentorship Award recognizes individuals who have exemplified outstanding commitment and dedication to mentoring minority researchers in the field of aging. This honor is in memory of James Jackson, PhD, FGSA, a pioneering psychologist in the fields of race and culture and the impact of racial disparities on minority health. Hearing from this esteemed recipient annually will be a meaningful addition to our time together at the Annual Scientific Meeting.

This year, the 2024 Jackson Award recipient, Lisa Barnes, PhD, FGSA, of Rush University, joins the Kent Award lecturer, Peter Lichtenberg, PhD, FGSA, of  Wayne State University, and the Kleemeier Award lecturer, Jiska Cohen-Mansfield, PhD, FGSA, of Tel Aviv University.

I hope you’ll all join me for the Donald P. Kent Award, Robert W. Kleemeier Award, and James Jackson Outstanding Mentorship Award Lectures on Friday, November 14, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET.