GERONTOLOGY NEWS FROM UMASS BOSTON
September 2023
Gerontology department welcomes
Sung Park as its newest faculty member
The UMass Boston Department of Gerontology welcomes Sung S. Park, PhD, as our newest faculty member. Park is a sociologist and social demographer interested in how institutional factors and social relationships contribute to population-level racial and ethnic inequalities in older age.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Park to campus,” says Gerontology Department Chair Edward A. Miller, PhD. “Sung is an accomplished scholar with strong pre- and postdoctoral training. Her research reinforces our department’s emphasis on studying inequities that impact underserved and vulnerable populations. We’re thrilled to have her on board.” 
GSA honors doctoral alumna Bei Wu with 2023 Pollack Award for Productive Aging
The Gerontology Society of America has honored Bei Wu, MS ’97, PhD ’00, with its prestigious Maxwell A. Pollack Award for Productive Aging. The award recognizes an individual who has distinguished themselves by bridging the worlds of research, policy, and practice.

Wu is Dean’s Professor in global health and vice dean for research at New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She co-directs NYU’s Aging Incubator and the Rutgers-NYU Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity. Before joining NYU she served as the Pauline Gratz Professor of Nursing at Duke University School of Nursing.
Journal of Aging & Social Policy continues to earn high impact scores
The Journal of Aging & Social Policy, published six times annually and based at UMass Boston since its inception in 1989, continues to see a high impact factor—which measures the average number of citations for articles and reviews published in a journal over two years. According to the Journal Citation Index (JCI), JASP’s impact factor was 5.1 in 2022, placing it 7th of 37 gerontology journals globally.

JASP ranks first of 38 gerontology journals according to Scopus’ CiteScore, which looks at citations across a broader range of article types over a four-year period. Scimago Journal Rank places Journal of Aging & Social Policy third of 41 gerontology articles.
Coyle, Harris to speak on "Social Connection Strategies in Action" at Boston forum Oct. 14
Caitlin Coyle, PhD '14, director of our Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, will present at an action forum, Building Connected Communities, October 12-14 in Boston. Coyle will present with Sandra Harris, her co-director of the innovative Massachusetts Taskforce to End Loneliness and Build Community.
 
The forum is hosted by the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, The Foundation for Social Connection, Healthy Places by Design with support from Einhorn Collaborative. Other speakers include U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murphy, author Robert Putnam, and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy.
Aging services leader says MAS program kept her updated in fast-changing field
Stacey Minchello, MS ’23, enrolled in the Management of Aging Services master’s program in 2020, looking to update her knowledge base. “I felt the UMass program was the best resource for keeping up with the most modern innovations in the field,” she says.

Minchello is the newly appointed executive director of The Community Family, a nonprofit adult day health organization with centers in three Greater Boston municipalities. She has also worked for cities as a Councils on Aging director. So while her professional network is extensive, "once you join the MAS program, you become part of a forever network," she says.
Save the date: MAS alumni, faculty celebrate 20th anniversary Oct. 19 with panel event
Since 2003, our Management of Aging Studies online master's program has prepared students to manage challenging transitions in the industry as leaders in the field who want to make a difference in the lives of older adults. Our MAS alumni work in home and community-based services, residential long-term care, advocacy organizations, state agencies, municipal organizations, insurance, care management, transportation, housing, and more.

We'll celebrate the 20th anniversary of the MAS program and its impact on Thursday, October 19, 2023 with an online panel of alumni and faculty members, who will talk about their experiences in the field.
UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY IN THE NEWS

"Single retirees of color face greatest financial hardship," Center for Retirement Research blog look at latest Elder Index report, August 17, 2023.

"Nursing homes and adult care costs surged by largest amount in July," Eddie Miller talks with Yahoo Finance, August 11, 2023.

"Disparities plagued care for older adults of color during pandemic, report finds," McKnight's Senior Living looks at recent report from LTSS Center, August 11, 2023.

"Workforce training program being evaluated by LeadingAge LTSS Center," McKnight's Senior Living looks at center's recent grant to evaluate a CA program, August 8, 2023.

"Where the government draws the line for Medicaid coverage leaves out many older Americans," Marc Cohen and Jane Tavares write about their recent study in The Conversation, August 1, 2023.

"Older adult tutors help kindergartners develop reading skills in Northeastern program inspired by early literacy losses," Northeastern University blog looks at program developed during COVID pandemic with volunteers from OLLI, July 13, 2023.