Q: How long have you been a GSA member?
A: 14 years.
Q: How specifically has membership in GSA benefitted you?
A: GSA is my professional home. Membership has provided opportunities to attend conferences and interest group meetings that are safe spaces to share my research and receive feedback, as well as a supportive environment to network, grow my professional community, and find collaborators—many of whom have become long-standing research partners and close colleagues. These relationships have resulted in numerous productive research projects as well as lasting professional friendships. In addition, through my participation in ESPO and GSA Interest Groups, GSA has given me room to grow as a leader. Overall, my involvement in GSA has been central to my professional development and sense of belonging in the field of gerontology.
Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: I became interested in sleep research before formally entering the field of aging. During my doctoral training, I worked closely with caregivers of persons living with dementia, which naturally drew my attention to aging-related issues and the complex challenges faced by older adults and their families. Through this work, I came to see how sleep disturbances are deeply intertwined with caregiving, cognitive change, and overall health across the aging process. To further strengthen my clinical and scholarly foundation, I pursued a master’s degree in Aging Studies, which complemented my training as a Family Nurse Practitioner and enhanced my nursing perspective. Today, my work focuses on both caregivers and persons living with dementia, integrating sleep science, gerontology, and family-centered care to address pressing issues in aging and dementia care.
Q: What do you love most about your line of work?
A: What I love most about my work is the opportunity to educate and engage with the community. I truly enjoy interacting with participants, learning from their lived experiences, and hearing their perspectives. These interactions consistently shape and strengthen my work. I also value being able to share the knowledge and skills I’ve gained with others in ways that are practical, accessible, and empowering. The mutual exchange of learning—where I am both teaching and learning—is what makes this work especially fulfilling for me.
Q: What projects are you working on in your current position?
A: In my current position, I am leading several projects focused on improving sleep health among older adults and families affected by dementia. One major project involves testing a behavioral sleep intervention delivered simultaneously to persons living with dementia and their care partners, with the goal of improving sleep for both members of the care dyad. I am also leading the delivery of a community-based sleep education program, The ABCs of Zzz, in predominantly African American churches. This program is designed to improve sleep knowledge and promote healthy sleep practices among older adults, while addressing sleep health disparities through culturally responsive, faith-based engagement.
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: One of the best pieces of advice I received early in my career was to find what you love and pursue it wholeheartedly—but not to let it become the only thing that defines you. Having a fulfilling life outside of work is just as important as professional success. I would pass this on to emerging gerontologists as a reminder to protect their well-being, cultivate interests beyond their careers, and build a life that sustains them personally and professionally over the long term.