Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education

Presidential Symposium: Embracing Engaged Teaching, Research, Service, and Policy to Strengthen Gerontological Education

Chair(s)

• 

  Christine Fruhauf, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE (she/her/hers)

  Professor
  Human Development and Family Studies
  Colorado State University
  Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Discussant(s)

• 

  Tina Newsham, PhD, F-AGHE (she/her/hers)

  Professor and Gerontology Program Coordinator
  School of Health and Applied Human Sciences
  University of North Carolina Wilmington
  Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• 

  Elinor Schoenfeld, MS, PhD

  Research Professor, Associate Vice Chair of Research
  Family Population and Preventive Medicine
  Stony Brook University School of Medicine
  Stony Brook, New York, United States
• 

  Taylor Jansen, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Post Doctoral Fellow
  Department of Gerontology
  University of Massachusetts Boston
  Boston, Massachusetts, United States
• 

  José Baralt, PhD, MPH (he/him/his)

  Professor
  Geronotology / Graduate School of Public Health
  University of Puerto Rico
  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico

  Slides
• SJ

  Shannon Jarrott, PhD, FGSA (she/her/hers)

  Professor
  College of Social Work
  The Ohio State University
  Columbus, Ohio, United States

It takes fortitude for GSA members to embrace engagement in their academic roles. Engagement is the opportunity for informing and enhancing research, teaching, and service, and policy by actively participating in activities that connect students with external partners and the community. In this AGHE Presidential Symposium, leading scholars whose grit and determination to embrace engagement will address the important role engagement has in uplifting gerontology and geriatrics education. Elinor Schoenfeld and colleagues will provide insights into their innovative, multidisciplinary approach to teaching students about community engagement, technology, and data security as it relates to supporting older adults living in their homes. Taylor Jansen will discuss incorporating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Mapping into gerontology research and teaching both undergraduate and graduate students, as she works closely with community partners in several states across the U.S. to uplift their programming and policy work. José Carrión-Baralt will describe the process he and his colleagues embraced as they coordinated efforts across several universities and health professions to support older adults after hurricanes Irma and Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, through the development of a team called Brigadas Salubristas (Public Health Brigades). Shannon Jarrott will highlight ways to engage students in local, state, and federal aging policy through decades of engaged work addressing intergenerational programming. AGHE Chair Tina Newsham will serve as discussant, sharing how AGHE will continue to embrace fortitude and support educational efforts and opportunities through engaged teaching, research, service, and policy.

Presentations:

• 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM PST

  Providing Students With Insights About Aging and Technology Using a Collaborative Teaching Approach
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Elinor R. Schoenfeld, MS, PhD – Stony Brook University School of Medicine
• 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM PST

  Incorporating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Mapping Into Gerontology Research and Teaching
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Taylor Jansen, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Massachusetts Boston
• 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM PST

  When the Going Gets Tough, Gerontology (and Other Health Professions) Students Get Going
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: José Baralt, PhD, MPH (he/him/his) – University of Puerto Rico
• 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM PST

  Students Connecting the Dots Between Policy Through Service, Research, and Teaching
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Shannon E. Jarrott, PhD, FGSA (she/her/hers) – The Ohio State University