UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY NEWS

JUNE 2025

Celebrating Three Exceptional Careers at UMass Boston Gerontology

It was an evening to celebrate a special era for the University of Massachusetts Boston Gerontology program. On June 7, 2025, people gathered at the UMass Boston Alumni Lounge to applaud the careers of three leaders who’ve been instrumental to the Gerontology Department and Gerontology Institute: Jan Mutchler, Jeffrey Burr, and Ellen Birchander. All three retire this year after creating enormous impact in Gerontology over the past three decades.

“What I want to celebrate is the environment they created together,” said Len Fishman, the former Gerontology Institute director. “The way that Jeff and Jan and Ellen always put the training and experience of students first. Their unselfish commitment to the growth of our field and to public service. The way they drew to them a group of colleagues committed to lifting each other up and making the whole greater than the sum of its parts.”

Congratulations to our New Gerontology PhDs

The Gerontology Department at UMass Boston added seven students to its roster of PhDs this past academic year, with three more planning to graduate this summer. The gerontology PhD program now boasts 120 graduates.

“The sheer breadth of our graduating class – from the topics studied to the methods used in their dissertations, to the careers they are about to embark on – is truly a testament to the gerontology PhD program at UMass Boston and its diversity,” says Jeffrey Stokes, PhD, Graduate Program Director in the Gerontology Department at UMass Boston. “This graduating class makes me immensely proud to be the Graduate Program Director, and I’m very confident these graduates will make everyone associated with UMass Boston proud as they bring their skills to bear beyond our university.”

One OLLI Summer Open House, Three Styles

At a library, aboard a harbor cruise, or online: What’s your OLLI open house style?

This year, OLLI at UMass Boston will offer a special open house, Spotlight on OLLI. Just as OLLI personalizes programs to different experiences – online, in person, classroom, and travel – so will the open house. On July 17, 2025, OLLI at UMass Boston invites people over age 50 in the Boston area to attend one of three open house experiences.

Curious to Try OLLI at UMass Boston?

If you’ve never tried OLLI at UMass Boston – a lifelong learning program for people over 50 – here are three reasons to give it a try this summer:

1. It’s free: Summer courses let people sample offerings at OLLI UMass Boston to discover why it’s so popular.

2. Engage with experts: The Smithsonian American Art Museum will host five summer programs that will spark conversations about art through American history.



3. Read with friends: The summer common read program is more than a book. After reading of “Being Heumann” by Judy Heumann, OLLI will host related events, including a talk from a local disability advocate who knew Heumann and a screening of the documentary, “Crip Camp.”

The summer line-up is full of interesting and enjoyable programs, from author talks to group walks to a downsizing workshop. Read the full program and learn how to register

UMass Boston Gerontology in the News

When You Lose your Health Insurance, You May Also Lose Your Primary Doctor – and That Hurts Your Health. In The Conversation, Jane Tavares, Ph.D. and Marc Cohen, Ph.D. share research about what may happen if people lose their health insurance due to cuts in Medicaid or other social safety net programs.

How to Fund an Annuity for Long-Term Care: In this Bankrate story, Marc Cohen shares a few methods of financing long-term care, as well as details of proposed legislation that could ease the crisis in long-term care funding.

Needs Increase as Some Funding Sources Become Shaky at the Hub: As Wyoming

examines its readiness for the influx of Baby Boomers, the Wyoming Healthy Aging Data Report – prepared by the Healthy Aging Data Report team at the Gerontology Institute – serves as important information to guide state leaders.