Q: How long have you been a GSA member?
A: Since 2016.
Q: How specifically has membership in GSA benefitted you?
A: Being a member of GSA has been a great way to network and meet new researchers in my field while also keeping in touch with old friends and colleagues. I especially like how GSA brings together researchers of many disciplines, and I enjoy learning from individuals with diverse expertise in clinical, public health, social science, and many other fields.
Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: Like many others in this field, much of my interest in aging stems from my personal experiences with my own family. My grandmother was diagnosed with dementia during my time as an undergrad. Witnessing the substantial effect it had on her and our family (especially my mother/aunts as her primary caregivers), I became interested in how I could apply my education in cognitive psychology to larger-scale public health preventions of neurodegenerative conditions.
Q: What projects are you working on in your current position?
A: I am currently researching ways that the built and social neighborhood environment may influence risk of neurocognitive declines, such as by providing resources (e.g., nearby services, safe walking amenities) that encourage individuals to remain active into later life. I am conducting this work both within larger multi-site epidemiologic cohorts (Cardiovascular Health Study) and in the context of local interventions (Baltimore Experience Corps Trial). I am hoping these findings can eventually inform structural/community-level interventions to mitigate cognitive and mobility impairments in later life.
Q: What do you love most about your line of work?
A: I love that my work allows me to do so many different things. As an assistant research professor, I get to apply my public health training to interesting research questions as well as mentor students, and I think it’s especially rewarding to see students get interested in the aging field. I also enjoy the chance to work with research participants and learn about their own personal experiences with aging that make this work important to them.
Q: What was the best piece of advice you got early on in your career you’d like to pass on to emerging gerontologists?
A: There’s so much good advice I’ve received from mentors over the years. In fact, I think my best piece of advice is to not be afraid to reach out to and learn from potential mentors, who could be not only formal advisors but also others with experience in your career/field. This has been especially important for me as early-career faculty, where there is a pressure to say “yes” to every opportunity and my faculty mentors help me to prioritize. My mentors over the years have also helped connect me with others, including for collaborations or job opportunities. I think sometimes reaching out to potential mentors can be intimidating for individuals early in their careers, but in my experience most individuals want to help and are happy to share their advice.