The Gerontological Society of America Congratulates New 2022 Awardees

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the country’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — is proud to acknowledge the work of 34 outstanding individuals through its prestigious awards program.

GSA salutes outstanding research, recognizes distinguished leadership in teaching and service, and fosters new ideas through a host of awards. Nominated by their peers, the recipients’ achievements serve as milestones in the history and development of gerontology.

The awardees were honored at various events associated with the GSA 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting, which was held from November 2 to 6 in Indianapolis, Indiana. This conference is organized to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners who specialize in the study of the aging process.

Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education

Student Leadership Award
Erta Cenko, MSPH
University of Florida
This award recognizes a student whose leadership has advanced the goals and mission of the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) as well as the respective goals of their institution.

Graduate Student Paper Award
Renata Komalasari
Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services
This award recognizes excellence in scholarly work by a student at an AGHE member institution or has selected AGHE as a primary or secondary section, and who presents his or her work at the GSA Annual Meeting.

Administrative Leadership Honor
Marla J. De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN
University of Utah College of Nursing
This award honors administrators on AGHE member campuses who have made exceptional efforts in support of gerontology and/or geriatrics education.

Mildred M. Seltzer Distinguished Service Honor
Margaret A. Perkinson, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE, FSfAA
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology
This honor is presented annually to recognize colleagues who are near retirement or recently retired.                      

Part Time/Adjunct Faculty Honor
Josh Johnson
University of Southern California
This honor recognizes the efforts and dedication of part-time or adjunct faculty members for contributions to gerontology and/or geriatrics education.

Part Time/Adjunct Faculty Honor
Joe DeMattos
University of Maryland Baltimore County
This honor recognizes the efforts and dedication of part-time or adjunct faculty members for contributions to gerontology and/or geriatrics education.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Moroni D. Fernandez Cajavilca
University of Utah/New York University
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Ke Li
University of Pittsburgh
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Chad Federwitz
Western Colorado Community College/Pitkin County Senior Services
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Claire Grant
Cleveland State University
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Elizabeth Handing
Colorado State University
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya
University of South Florida
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Caroline Buse
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Amy Powell-Versteeg
University of Utah
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Giuliana Casanova
University of Aveiro
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

James McKenney Student Travel Award
Janelle E. Fassi
University of Massachusetts Boston
This award advances student education on aging in memory of James McKenney.

Behavioral and Social Sciences Section

Student Research Award, Pre-Dissertation
Eunyoung Choi, PhD
New York University
This award honors an excellent student paper with a topic of relevance to the Behavioral and Social Sciences section of GSA.

Student Research Award, Dissertation
Crystal Ng
University of Michigan
This award honors an excellent student paper with a topic of relevance to the Behavioral and Social Sciences section of GSA.

Boaz Kahana Student Poster Award
Christina X. Mu
University of South Florida
This award recognizes a current BSS student member for original and innovative research relevant to mental health and aging.

T.J. McCallum Memorial Student Registration Award
Athena Koumoutzis       
Miami University
This award honors student members with a focus on caregiving or technology.

T.J. McCallum Memorial Student Registration Award
Soonhyung Kwon
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
This award honors student members with a focus on caregiving or technology.

Biological Sciences Section

Austin Bloch Post-Doctoral Fellow Award
Lei Zhang
University of Minnesota
This award is given to recognize an outstanding paper or poster contribution by a Postdoctoral Fellow in biological sciences.

George Sacher Award
Bhaswati Ghosh
Louisiana State University
This award is given to the best student paper or poster contribution by a GSA member at the Society's Annual Scientific Meeting.

Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization

Douglas Holmes Award
Xiang Qi, BS, PhD Candidate
New York University
This award recognizes research with potential to improve quality of life and/or quality of care in long-term care.

Interdisciplinary Paper Award
Aparajita Sur
University of Minnesota
This award honors the best interdisciplinary research paper on a topic related to aging by a GSA student member.

Poster Award
Xiang Qi, BS, PhD candidate
New York University
This award honors exceptional posters presented by GSA student members.

Poster Award
Alexis Reeves, MPH, PhD
Stanford University
This award honors exceptional posters presented by GSA student members.

Poster Award
Elizabeth Zambrano Garza
University of British Columbia
This award honors exceptional posters presented by GSA student members.

Poster Award
Peter Sun
Washington University in St. Louis
This award honors exceptional posters presented by GSA student members.

Poster Award
Donncha S. Mullin, MBChB, MRCPsych
University of Edinburgh
This award honors exceptional posters presented by GSA student members.

Poster Award
Julia Nolte
Cornell University
This award honors exceptional posters presented by GSA student members.

Minority Issues in Gerontology Committee Student Poster Award
Xiang Qi, BS, PhD candidate
New York University
This award honors an exceptional poster presented by a GSA student member from an underrepresented racial and ethnic group.

Health Sciences Section

Person-In-Training Award
Anisha Suri
University of Pittsburgh
This award honors a student of the Health Sciences section for the best student paper at the Society's Annual Scientific Meeting.

Research Award
Samaneh Farsijani
University of Pittsburgh
This award honors a new investigator in the Health Sciences Section.

Social Research, Policy, and Practice Section

Carroll L. Estes Rising Star Award
Jessica M. Finlay, PhD
University of Michigan
This award honors outstanding early career contributions in social research, policy, and practice.

Outstanding Student Poster Award
Taylor Jansen, PhD
University of Massachusetts Boston
This award recognizes a current SRPP student member, graduate or undergraduate, for excellence in research as reflected in an outstanding research poster presentation.

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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,500+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA’s structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society.