GSA Summer Policy Internships

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is home to an established summer policy internship program. Aimed at emerging scholars, these professional development opportunities are named in memory of Kathryn Hyer, MPP, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE, and Greg O’Neill, PhD, who were policy scholars and long-time GSA members.

Hyer was a GSA president and board chair — providing undaunted leadership in 2020 by quickly establishing a Diversity and Justice Working Group and a COVID-19 Task Force— and served in many other roles during her 30 years of active membership within the Society. She was a professor in the School of Aging Studies and director of the Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging at the University of South Florida. Her scholarship focused on the quality of care in long-term care settings, disaster preparedness, curriculum development, and educational evaluation.

O’Neill enjoyed a 20-year career at GSA. He joined the staff in 1998 as a research associate and served in multiple roles related to research, policy, and practice gerontology. He had a passion for policy and led GSA’s nonpartisan public policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society, for many years.

In 2023, GSA is seeking two internship candidates to participate in eight-week in-person experiences in Washington, DC. One of the internships will be designated for an emerging scholar enrolled at a Minority Serving Institution (as defined by the U.S. Department of Education). Over the summer, interns will be immersed in aging-related policy development and participate in this process at the national level.

Internship duties and opportunities may include attending congressional hearings; researching and analyzing issues that impact older people; meeting with federal regulatory agencies and national coalitions; monitoring legislation and regulations; contributing to GSA’s Public Policy & Aging Report; developing policy sessions for the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting; drafting communications related to these issues impacting older people; and attending networking events with GSA staff. The internship term runs through the summer, with flexible start dates. Each selected candidate will receive a $6,000 stipend.

Qualifications

To qualify for an internship, applicants:

  • Must be a master’s or doctoral-level student studying gerontology or in an aging-related field at an accredited institution of higher learning with an exceptional academic record or have graduated from such a program within six months of the internship period;
  • Should have a strong interest in policy, legislative, and regulatory affairs;
  • Should possess strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills;
  • Must be able to work in GSA’s central office located in Washington, DC, for 35 hours per week for 8 weeks.

Preference will be given to those applicants who have actively participated in GSA-related activities.

Successful applications will include a complete online application submitted by the due date and time along with a copy of the applicant’s resume/CV; one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or employer; and a copy of the applicant’s most recent transcript indicating current or recent enrollment at an accredited institution of higher learning.

Timeline

Application available: Monday, November 1, 2022: Click here to apply.
Informational webinar, "Getting to Know the GSA Summer Policy Internship Program: Application and Conversation with Previous Policy Interns"
Application submission due: Monday, February 6, 2023, 5 p.m. EST
Online interviews conducted: February 13 to 21, 2023
Decision announced on or about: March 1, 2023

Email questions to the GSA Professional Affairs Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Donate to Support the Internship Program

Our ability to host interns relies on funding from generous donors. We provide each intern with a stipend that covers their travel and living expenses. The more funding received, the more we can foster the next generation of aging policy professionals. If you would like to support the program, you can click here to donate to the GSA Gregory O’Neill Student Policy Internship Fund. Thank you!

 

 

Policy Center

naasWelcome to GSA's policy branch, the National Academy on an Aging Society!

As a non-partisan public policy institute, the Academy actively conducts and compiles research on issues related to population aging and provides information to the public, the press, policymakers, and the academic community.

Policy Publications

The Academy produces publications aimed at providing researchers, teachers, students, and citizens interested in aging-related issues with valuable policy information. Its publications include the Public Policy & Aging Report and Public Policy & Aging E-Newsletter.

Advocacy

GSA invites you to learn how to translate your research into political action. See how GSA participates in advocacy and share your own opinions with policymakers.

Advocacy

Basic Toolkit

From writing letters to your Congressmen to Capitol Hill Visits, this basic toolkit teaches you how to advocate for aging issues.

The Legislative Process
An overview of the types of legislation, the role of individual Members of Congress, and the importance of committees.

Glossary of Legislative Terms
A listing of terms commonly used in connection with the legislative process.

Public Policy and Advocacy: The Basics
How-to guide on writing to Congress, setting up meetings with legislative officials, and getting to know the staff.

Roles of Congressional Staff
Learn the commonly used titles and principal functions of key staff.

Key Congressional CommitteesView the most important committees for Aging and Health issues.

Hill Visit
Tips for your visit to Capitol Hill, from saying thank you to bringing a short summary of your research.

GSA Fact Sheet
Carry this fact sheet to tell Congressional staff about the background and goals of GSA.

Partner Organizations

GSA engages in advocacy primarily through its active participation in the following coalitions:

The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) is a 64-member coalition of national not-for-profit organizations representing over 60 million older Americans. LCAO’s diverse and dedicated association strives to preserve and strengthen the well-being of America’s older population by providing a voice for seniors and their families in the ongoing national debate on aging policy.

The Friends of the National Institute on Aging is a broad coalition of organizations committed to the advancement of health sciences research that could affect millions of older Americans. FoNIA supports the research and training missions of the National Institute on Aging and serves as a bridge between the NIA and supportive organizations and groups in order to promote and advocate for the NIA and its initiatives as public policies in health and research take shape. By bringing together like-minded organizations to support the federal government’s leading aging research institute, FoNIA addresses current and future challenges in advancing public awareness and acceptance of research goals.

Policy Publications

Public Policy & Aging Report

Public Policy & Aging Report, published quarterly, explores policy issues generated by the aging of society. Each thematic issue is designed to stimulate debate, highlight emerging concerns, and propose alternative policy options. Recent issues have addressed legal and policy issues associated with end-of-life care; technology and aging; income security among older populations of color; Medicare reform; and elder abuse and neglect. The audience consists of decision-makers in the public and private sectors, advisors and staff to those decision-makers, program administrators, researchers, students, and the interested public. Articles in each issue are informed, to the point, and provocative. Authors are drawn from the leadership ranks of the policy, practice, and research communities. In the Public Policy & Aging Report, these authors are afforded the opportunity to engage readers in a more timely and pressing manner than is afforded through most other publication formats. Each issue contains an article in the Editor's Choice series, representing a paper that the editor sees as providing an especially significant contribution to the field of gerontology. These articles are available free to non-subscribers.

Public Policy & Aging E-Newsletter

This bimonthly e-newsletter highlights key developments and viewpoints in the field of aging policy from a wide variety of sources, including articles and reports circulating in the media, academy, think tanks, private sector, government and nonprofit organizations. The goal of this publication is to reach teachers, students, and citizens interested in aging-related issues, especially those who may not have easy access to policy information disseminated both in Washington and around the country. The Public Policy & Aging E-Newsletter is a free bimonthly email publication. If you would like to subscribe, either log in above or create a GSA account. Once logged in, click the "My Account" button above and select "My GSA Dashboard," then select "Manage Email Preferences."

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