The Association for
Gerontology in
Higher Education
Brings You ...

April 17-21 2006
Sponsored by: The Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

2006 Participants

2006 Scheduled Events

Boston University: The Institute for Geriatric Social Work at Boston University is holding a film screening and a discussion on the movie "Sunset Story". This film is a documentary on older adults in a residential setting. The purpose of our event is to introduce first year students and prospective students to the possibility of working with older adults. The beginning of the event will consist of a reflective discussion around fears, hopes, and questions about working with older adults. We will then show a segment of the video, which will be followed by a discussion session.

Central Connecticut State University: At CCSU we are going to have an information booth in our student center to promote careers in aging and our gerontology minor program. It will run from 10-3 on April 19th and we will be showing the Careers in Aging video, handing out Careers in Aging pamphlets, and also providing information about our minor program. Both faculty and students will staff the table, and we will also have a representative from the Alzheimer's Association for part of the day passing out information and answering questions about her work.

Cleveland State University: Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio will participate for the second year in Careers in Aging Week, April 17-21, 2006. Two main on-campus activities are planned for this year. The goals of the Careers in Aging Week are to:
--Inform students about the undergraduate and graduate certificates in Gerontology and the courses offered in aging at CSU
--Disseminate information about careers in aging
--Raise awareness about the graying of the population and what this means to young people today
The following activities are planned:
--Information Fair--Monday, April 17 & Tuesday, April 18 from 11am - 1pm
Informational materials will be distributed from Cleveland State's Career Services, Department of Health Sciences, Division of Continuing Education, School of Communication, School of Nursing, and School of Social Work will be provided as well as information on the gerontology certificate offered by CSU.
--Professionals in the Aging Field Panel Discussion--Thursday, April 20 from noon-1pm
There will be a free pizza luncheon, and the panel is free and open to the public.
This year the panel will include professionals from a diverse group of organizations including a CSU alumnus occupational therapist, an architect, a nursing home administrator, an accomplished researcher specializing in aging, a community member, and a social worker.

Eastern Michigan University: The Gerontology Program at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) will host a series of events during the 5th annual Careers in Aging Week, taking place the week of April 17-21, 2006. Activities will kick off with a Career in Aging Bingo game on Monday, April 17 in McKenny Union to introduce students to the wide ranging career opportunities that exist in aging and aging research. A "Conversations with…" series will follow at the noon hour on Tuesday, April 18 at the College of Business; Wednesday April 19 at the College of Health and Human Services and Thursday April 20 at the Dining Commons One. People working in the field of gerontology will be on hand to talk with students about potential careers ranging from a financial planner, a dietician, a Long Term Care facility manager, as well as researchers. Representatives of each career will provide a brief overview of their organization, the nature of their work, and a personal account of why they entered their field and what they enjoy most about their work. Traveling to each activity will be posters, flyers and brochures that highlight various careers in aging (e.g. public administration, dietetics/nutrition, social work, and occupational therapy) designed by students enrolled in the Introduction to Careers in Aging course offered at EMU.

Florida Gulf Coast University: We are involved in two large events where we will use Careers on Aging materials to disseminate information about the importance of focusing on a career in aging:

1. Southwest Florida Conference on Aging
--This conference will take place on Friday, April 21st, 2006 in Fort Myers, Florida.
--The purpose of the conference is to provide information and education to professionals in the field of aging, and to bring the local aging community together to meet our common goals. Additionally, it is to provide information to the general public regarding aging issues. Attendees will include professionals in aging as well as older adults and family members. Sessions will offer education in health care, mental health, case management and current issues.
--We have a diverse mix of presenters from the aging network, including local agencies and the educational community, all lending their expertise and sharing their knowledge with us.
2. Florida Gulf Coast University Research Day
--This is a yearly event where students and faculty have a chance to display their research.

Fordham University: On Thursday, April 20th, from 6-8 p.m. Fordham University in New York City will host an Aging Career Information and Networking reception for social work, psychology, law and health career students in the New York metropolitan area. The event will feature a talk by Judge Fern Fisher of the New York City Housing Court, who started a program using lawyers and social workers to help older people threatened with eviction. The event is co-sponsored by the New York State Society on Aging, the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service Alumni Association and the Fordham University Ravazzin Center on Social Work Research in Aging. Representatives of the sponsoring organizations, along with alumnae working with elders, will speak and be available to talk informally (over hors d'oeuvres) about career opportunities in aging.
The reception will take place at Fordham's Manhattan campus, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY in the South Lounge, Plaza level.

Iowa State University: Iowa State University's SPO chapter will be holding the following activities during Careers in Aging Week:
A Seminar Series on Traumatic Events and the Elderly:
--Monday, April 17th - The Economic Impact to Seniors on Natural Disasters
--Tuesday, April 18th - The Impact of Elder Abuse on Seniors
--Wednesday, April 19th - The Impact of the Loss of a Child or Grandchild on
Seniors

Kennesaw State University: We are having on April 19, 4:30 - 6, the first meeting of the Kennesaw State University Gerontology Alumni Student Alliance, at the Alumni House on campus. This idea grows out of last year's Careers in Aging Week event, in which alums and current students met and agreed that they wanted to continue meeting. Things move slowly, of course. This is the organizing meeting in which people will decide on officers, by-laws, activities, and we will become an official alumni group of the university, with the support of the Alumni Affairs Office.

Kent State University: Kent State University will be conducting a panel presentation about job opportunities for students in the field of gerontology and aging. Presenters will include former Kent State Students working in the field and they will focus on helping current students to become professionals working in long-term care settings and social service agencies. The panel presentation will take place on April 19. On April 24, Dr. Cameron J. Camp will present a guest lecture on Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Dementia.

Mansfield University: Mansfield University is planning an educational forum to discuss Careers in Aging on April 18th at 12:30 PM. Our guest speaker is a graduate of our program who is now employed at the Area Agency on Aging. She will address the career opportunities and various ways of finding positions in the field of aging. We are also planning to show the video on Careers in Aging as well. Refreshments will be available. Also, we will be handing out the Careers in Aging material to our social work classes.

Michigan State University- School of Social Work: Michigan State University has offered for the first time an Introduction to Gerontology course (SW 290) as an elective. On April 17th, 2006 the 20 students enrolled in the course will present findings from a major paper assignment via a poster session from 9:00 AM - 11:30. A luncheon with a panel discussion will follow from 11:30 noon - 1:00. PM. The audience for this event will include field and diversity project supervisors and social work students assigned to their agencies. Also, graduate students enrolled in the Social Welfare Policy and Services: Aging course (SW 822), members of the School of Social Work-Gerontology Advisory Board, and School of Social Work faculty and students are invited to participate in the event. Poster session topics include the following: Psychological Aspects of the Aging Baby Boomers, Family Members Coping with Alzheimer's Disease: An African American Focus, The Importance of Appearance: Psychological Aspects of Plastic Surgery, Religion & Spirituality: Differences Between Shut-ins and Those who Attend Services, The Impact of Psychotropic Medications on the Older Adult Population, and
Occurrence of Elder Abuse in Facilities. A panel presentation, consisting of Susan Bowden, Suzanne Cross, Joan Deller, and Sally Rypkema, will follow that will provide an overview of gerontological research, teaching and service.

The Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre/PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Ageing & Health (Jamaica): We are celebrating Careers in Ageing Week with the following events and activities:
1. Mounted Exhibition which will showcase different types of Careers in Ageing
2. Multimedia Display on Ageing Careers
3. Open Day (Will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday April 18, 2006 - as Monday April 17 is a Public Holiday in Jamaica)
- The Day will start off with a short ceremony in which we will have a Guest Speaker who will speak on the importance of Careers in Ageing and other invited guests from the Ministry of Health, Jamaica; the National Council for Senior Citizens; the Head of the Department of Community Health & Psychiatry and the Chairman Action Ageing Jamaica bring Greetings.
- Letters were also sent to other NGO's to attend the event
4. The event will be announced on the National Radio Station as well as Mona Radio located on the University of the West Indies Campus.
5. Mona Radio through the University of the West Indies Public Relations office will interview the organizers for the Careers in Ageing event.

Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago: The M.A. in Gerontology program at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, IL will be hosting a two-day event entitled "Careers in Aging-- Promoting Wellness in Late Life," with two different speaker panels of practitioners discussing related aging topics. On the first day (Monday, April 17, 2006; 3-5pm), the topic of the speaker panel will be "Wellness in the Service Sector." Speakers on this panel will explain how the mission, goals, and/or programs of their organizations promote wellness among older people. On the second day (April 18, 2006; 7-9pm), the topic of the speaker panel will be "Aging Well in Community Life." Gerontologists have recently taken a strong interest in developing "senior friendly" communities and offering older people new strategies and venues for contributing to their communities; speakers on this panel will describe a variety of projects that take on these goals.

San Francisco State University (SFSU) Gerontology Department: The student chapters of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) and Gerontological Society of America (GSA) at San Francisco State University (SFSU) Gerontology Department will be hosting our 11th annual Spring Forum and Administrator-In-Training (AIT) Reception on April 18th, 2006. The title of this year's forum is "Aging and Social Justice: Advocates for Social Security and Medicare."

San Jose State University: Our theme is "What's Age Got To Do With It? Compassionate Careers in a Changing World". We will have two panel presentations: (1) 4/18 - People working in the field who will discuss what they do, how they got there, and why they do it to inspire students to think about aging as a career; and (2) 4/19 - A panel of leaders from the multicultural communities: LGBT, American Indian, Portuguese and Filipino American elders who will talk about working with diverse populations.

Simon Fraser University, the Gerontology Graduate Caucus: This year will be our 6th Annual Careers on Aging Night. To kick start the event we plan on having four guest speakers who are leaders in an age-related field within the greater Vancouver area. Each speaker is scheduled to speak about their career path and provide students with tips and insight on potential career opportunities. Following the guest speakers we have organized a Networking Wine and Cheese Social where we have invited 25 community leaders in various fields to come and network with interested students at the Harbour Centres Revolving Restaurant.

Slippery Rock University: Slippery Rock University will be participating in Careers in Aging Week again this year! Dr. Adelle M. Williams, the coordinator of the event, will hold an open house and a reception for faculty and students during that week. Information will be discussed and disseminated regarding gerontology!

St. Cloud State University: The Gerontology Program at St. Cloud State University, in conjunction with our local Sigma Phi Omega (Beta Zeta) and Gerontology Club chapters are sponsoring a Careers in Aging Week Open House on April 24th to bring together students, faculty, and community professionals in the field of aging. Materials on careers in the field of aging will be presented and networking will be encouraged.

State University of New York (SUNY), Oswego: SUNY Oswego will be hosting its 5th Annual Careers in Aging Panel this year. The panel discussion will be coordinated by the Center for Service Learning and Community Service. The panel will consist of about six professionals from different aspects of the aging field. Previous panelists included: a graduate student in a Gerontology program, an Activities' Assistant at a local nursing home, the student volunteer coordinator of the "Adopt-a-Grandparent Program," and Program Coordinators and Directors of different agencies that assist the elderly. Since the panelists each work with the elderly in different capacities, they are able to inform the audience about the many different career options available to those interested in working with this particular population.

University of Alaska, Anchorage (Gerontology Program): We will be recognizing Careers in Aging Week in each of our classes that specializes in gerontology – through discussions with guest speakers about employment opportunities in various gerontological settings, through use of the video “Careers in Aging: Old Friends, New Faces”, and through distribution of the Careers in Aging brochures and small complimentary items.

In addition, capping the week on Friday, April 21st we will join with a city-wide Placement Fair sponsored by the UAA School of Social Work. Over 100 social service agencies have been invited to set up a table at this Fair to distribute information about the services and opportunities available in their agency, and a special section will be devoted to agencies with careers in aging.

University of Arkansas: The Delta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Phi Omega will be holding an event for Careers in Aging Week to spark interest in students who may have not thought of a career in aging previously. On Monday, April 17th at 2pm Edward Tobey will be joining us on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, AR to discuss his career as a psychiatrist and his primary focus on helping those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

University of Kansas: The University of Kansas Gerontology Department and the Office of Aging and Long Term Care at the School of Social Welfare in collaboration with the Department of Sociology, Department of Psychology, and the Music and Dance Department are joining together to celebrate Careers in Aging Week on the KU campuses and to bring awareness of the aging field to students, faculty, and staff. Our schedule of events includes:
--Monday, April 17th (11:30 am to 12:30 pm)-- "Brown Bag" lunch at the Kansas Union, International room. This will be an informal opportunity for experts in the field of aging to discuss career opportunities and new developments within their respective fields on aging issues. Guests include: David J. Ekerdt, Ph.D., Director, Gerontology Center, Professor of Sociology; Terry Koenig. Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Work; Janet Hamburg, Professor of Dance and producer of Motivating Moves for People with Parkinson's.
--Monday, April 17th through Wednesday, April 19th-- Information table at the Kansas Union 4th Floor. The University of Kansas Center for Community Outreach (CCO), Helping Unite Generation (HUG) Program will provide volunteers to assist with manning the information table. Brochures and other information will be available on careers in aging.
--Thursday, April 20th --Movie "Big Mama" in the Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union, 4th floor. This movie highlights the need for age-competent professionals in multiple disciplines, as well as celebrates the strengths of older persons.
Through out the week:
--Posters and flyers will be visible on the Lawrence and Edward campus.
--Information received from CIAW will be distributed to professors for discussion with students in the School of Social Welfare and the Music Department. Our aim is to inform, encourage, and support the awareness of the need for competent aging specialists in all disciplines and to celebrate the importance of working with an aging population.

University of Massachusetts - Boston: The UMass Boston chapter of Sigma Phi Omega is holding its annual new member induction ceremony on April 20th. The guest speaker at the ceremony will be Bing Chen, the Frank J. Manning Eminent Scholar's Chair in Gerontology, and his keynote address will be entitled: "White House Conference on Aging: Reflections of a Delegate".

University of Missouri-Kansas City: On Thursday, April 20, the UMKC Center on Aging Studies will celebrate Careers in Aging Week with an afternoon program and reception. We will have three speakers from diverse aging-related occupations within the community. They will talk about what they--and their employer in general--do in the area of aging, describe their own personal career path to the field of aging, and identify special qualifications and characteristics they look for in potential employees. There will also be time for questions from the audience. The program is scheduled to begin a 4 p.m. A reception immediately following the program will allow attendees an opportunity to network.

University of North Carolina, Charlotte: UNC Charlotte is hosting a panel of program graduates discussing their career paths and current jobs in the field of aging. It is being held in conjunction with the annual induction into our local chapter of Sigma Phi Omega and a reception honoring this year's graduates from the Gerontology Program.

Virginia Commonwealth University: The Department of Gerontology at VCU has planned an exciting Careers in Aging Week. We will kick off the week on Monday April 17th with SPO officer elections at our first, in an on going series, Gerontology Movie Night. We plan to hold movie nights the third Monday of every month to watch a broad range of films with aging themes. We will start the series with Assisted Living. On Wednesday the 19th we will hold our 30th Annual Spring Symposium this years topic is Communication with Cognitively Impaired Elders. This event will be our first annual Alumni Summit. The Alumni Summit is designed to re-invigorate the Gerontology Alumni Association and to provide a forum for alumni feedback to the Department. On Thursday the 20th SPO is hosting a "Stuffing Party" during which we will create mailings for other University Departments to spread the word that the Age Wave is coming as well as to increase awareness of the Department of Gerontology offerings.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: We are pleased to announce that the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech will sponsor a keynote address by Dr. Karen L. Fingerman, Berner Hanley University Scholar in gerontology at Purdue University, in celebration of Careers in Aging Week and in conjunction with our annual Recognition Ceremony for recipients of awards, scholarships, and the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. Besides addressing a university and community audience, Dr. Fingerman will meet with undergraduate and graduate students to discuss career plans and trajectories. In addition, students will have an opportunity to speak with members of the Center's external advisory board, comprising members of state government and representatives of community agencies, to discuss career options and plans. Careers in aging will also be highlighted in a new Internet-based video, currently under development, which is aimed at recruiting undergraduate students to the human services major in the Department of Human Development, where most of the gerontology courses are taught at Virginia Tech.

Wayne State University (WSU): Careers in Aging day will be held April 19th 2006. Wayne State University's departments of Business, Economics, Nursing, Engineering, Library Science and the Institute of Gerontology faculty and students will present posters at the 1st Annual e-Health Poster Session and Symposia on April 19, 2006 from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to be held at Wayne State University, McGregor Center. Abstracts have been invited from students, faculty, clinicians and other health professionals in the area of e-health as broadly defined. E-health encompasses the interface of IT, health services and informatics research, interface design, and organization and social design, including engineering concepts of e-technology to address health challenges in reducing disparities with emphasis on older adults. Work reported will be ongoing or completed research of single investigators or of collaborative teams.

West Virginia University: The GSA/SPO student groups at West Virginia University are hosting a night of guest speakers who have expertise in senior advocacy. The evening is starting with a social hour and then will hear from the ombudsman attorney for seniors and the Executive Director of WV Senior Legal Aid. They plan on holding a Question and Answer session after the talks.

Winston-Salem State University: Careers in Aging Week at Winston-Salem State University will be observed with three events sponsored by the Gerontology Program. Monday, April 17th is Movie Night. Students, staff, and faculty will watch an aging related movie followed by discussion. On Wednesday, April 19th, a panel of aging services professionals will discuss a myriad of career paths in the field of aging. The panel presentation will be followed by a Q & A session and an Open House Reception for the Gerontology Program. Careers in Aging Week activities will conclude on Thursday, April 20th with the Annual Spring Forum on Aging. The keynote speaker is Ronald LeGrand, Diversity Outreach Director, National AARP Office of Diversity and Inclusion. His speech is entitled, "The Blueprint of Aging for the Future." The audience will consist of students, staff, faculty, community older adults, and aging services paraprofessionals and professionals. A panel of aging experts will respond to the keynote address, followed by a Q & A session. Mr. LeGrand will facilitate a private dialogue with gerontology students following the event.

Press Release: 2006 Careers in Aging Week

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) are proud to present the 5th annual "Careers in Aging Week", taking place the week of April 17-21, 2006. The purpose of this week is to introduce to a broad audience the wide-ranging career opportunities that exist in aging and aging research and to promote GSA and AGHE as the premier organizations for supporting career development in the field of gerontology.

GSA and AGHE extend an invitation to its members as well as members of Sigma Phi Omega, the gerontological honor society, to participate. Members are asked to submit brief proposals to GSA of activities to take place on their campuses or organizations during the week. Examples of proposed activities include sponsoring forums with panels of professionals in the aging field. Others include receptions with gerontology faculty and students and open houses in university gerontology departments. Over seventy organizations participated in 2003, ninety in 2004, and over one hundred in 2005.

In addition to this website, GSA and AGHE has created special printed material including careers in aging brochures and booklets, flyers, posters, pins and notepads. We will also provide publicity for the event, promoting activities on our websites and in our publications. To sign up for this year's Careers in Aging Week, please contact CIAW@geron.org.
(Posted 2/6/2006)

Click here for last years 2005 participants