Paul Irving’s book, “The Upside of Aging: How Long Life Is Changing the World of Health, Work, Innovation, Policy, and Purpose,” highlights a collection of essays that expand on the issue of taking a more progressive approach to aging. Dean Cohen’s chapter focuses on the reality that each individual ages…
Read More
Living in cities with high pollution has long been attributed to decline in physical health as we age. However, Jennifer Ailshire, Assistant Professor at the USC Davis School of Gerontology, and fellow researcher Philippa Clarke have reason to believe it may even be accelerating the natural cognitive decline we experience…
Read More
USC's doctor Valter Longo along with other esteemed USC researchers stumbled upon the first evidence of a possible natural means of regeneration to organs or systems damaged during chemotherapy. Although the findings are still undergoing duplication and clinical studies, moral is high that we may finally have a suitable dietary…
Read More
Congratulations Class of 2014! The largest class in the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology’s history graduated today. Bringing together faculty, staff and students, the graduation program also included the largest number of award presentations by the University to students from the Davis School.
“I am amazed by these students,” said Dean Pinchas Cohen who delivered the welcoming address and closing remarks. “They are reinventing aging as we know it and I am positive that they will have an important role to play in all of our futures as they advance in their careers.”
The USC Leonard Davis School has always been a tight-knit group which provides both faculty and student the opportunity to really enjoy the experience more personally as their academic careers flourish. Among the 70 graduates were 5 new PhD students as well as 4 new recognized Doctoral Affiliates. It was during the PhD hooding ceremony that Drs. Susan Enguídanos, Tara Gruenewald, Eileen Crimmins, Valter Longo, Bob Knight, and Mara Mather were able to convey the connection that faculty have with their students.
“I’m sorry; I will be talking for over a minute even though we’re not supposed too. I just have so many good things to say and one minute just isn’t enough time. I feel a bit selfish saying I’m sad to see Joohong leave us, but we’re very proud of her and we’ll miss her,” said Dr. Gruenewald as she delivered her heartfelt send off.
After honoring the accomplishments of our graduating class, Dean Cohen closed out our commencement with some reassuring words and a reminder that we are all part of an ever growing Trojan family. “I encourage you to remain closely in touch with the school as you pursue your goals and further your careers; after all, we are united by a shared dream–the dream of a better and more vibrant aging experience for all. Congratulations and Fight On!”
——————–
Heinz Osterburg Prize – Morgan Levine
Order of Troy – Jacqueline Dion
Renaissance Scholar – Jacqueline Dion
Discovery Scholar Prize Finalists – Brandon Glousman, Kyrstin Harris, Joshua Man, Elaine Roh, Kezia Rusli
Discovery Scholar Prize Recipient – Brandon Glousman
McNair Scholar – Nicole Marcione
Gerontology Minors – Elizabeth Breiter, Sarah Fell, Sara Lanier, Aaron Mejia, Kimberly Morton, Rachel Piperno, Lauren Salas Mationg, Maurice Turner, Sidney Zahabizadeh
Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging – Asmaa Albaroudi, Tiffany Chu, Marie Danielian, Jessica Davis, Jacqueline Dion, Brandon Glousman, Jessica Gonzalez, Megan Greaney, Raphi Hambartzhumian, Kyrstin Harris, Natalie Innocenzi, April Jordan, Christine Karapetian, Susan Kazandjian, Joshua Man, Nicole Martin, Myra Mendoza, Nicholas Persinger, Elaine Roh, Kezia Rusli, Mary Stepanyan, Jae Yoon Yi
Bachelor of Science in Lifespan Health – Nicole Marcione
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology – Crystal Baham, Robin Drubin, Aubrie Hills, Cheryl Lampkin, Jennifer Martin, Lana Perry, Maria Yefimova
Master of Long Term Care Administration – Heather Diaz
Master of Arts in Gerontology – Susan Adams, Donna Anderson, Nathan Bowman-Johnston, Selim Ciftci, Jordan DeVera, Susan Fair Clark, Ileana Gavina, Hannah Godwin, Heather Gulas, James Hill, Ann Hollander, Jacqueline Hurt, Cynthia Hutchins, Janine Katsikas, Kelley Le, Karen Love, Michelle Matter, Christie Miller, Christina Muzzy, Jenna Patterson, Larry Perkins, Sandra Rachon, Lisa Saldana, Nishad Sathe, Loreen Trevino, Jelisa Turner, Brenda Vazquez, Melissa Weaver, Anna Whitlock, Logan Wimer, Robert Worthen, Walter Zuhosky
Master of Aging Services Management – Michelle Akahoshi, Mateen Ansari, Rochelle Balaban, Jennifer Brewer, Catherine Dilley, Joyce Dirkes Chavez, Elizabeth Donnell, Travis Freed, Kimberly Henderson, Lisa Herring, Melissa Itzkowitz, Yolanda Lawler, Ruth Le, Catherine Lee, Scott McAulay, Meagan McClellan, Carlena McKnight, Lu Meng, Sam Moghaddamfar, Nell Moton Kapple, Calli Peacock, Donna Phillips, Jon Schwartz, Jessica Taylor, Paul Wanson, Darin Weidauer
Master of Science in Gerontology – Crystal Bettenhausen-Bubulka, Sahar Edalati, Kristina Field, Virginia Hazarian, Craig Hung, Ani Kolangian, Angelica Kutnerian, Cera Meintzer, Pamela Maree, Ramirez, Catherine Salvino, DeVonet Taylor, Jeannette Torres, Tavin Vasuntarapiwat, Kim Vu, Eve Wettstein, Carin May Wong, Anna Woo
Doctor of Philosophy in Gerontology – Alexis Coulourides Kogan, Jeffery Laguna, Joohong Min, Nicholas Pisca, Felicia Wheaton
Recognition of Affiliated Doctorate – Chia-Wei Cheng, Philip Sayegh, Matthew Sutherland, Alexandra Ycaza
As part of this year's Milken Institute Global Conference principal USC stem cell investigators Drs. Pinchas Cohen, Valter Longo and Edna M. Jones, of the USC Davis School of Gerontology, share their findings and give us a glimpse into the future of regenerative medicine. [Continue Reading...}
Read More
Dawn Alley, Ph.D. class of 2006 was profiled recently by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation highlighting her work in the Health and Society program which she is involved. [Continue Reading...}
Read More
Bob Knight, Ph.D. and his research team at USC’s Davis School of Gerontology are interested in learning more about wisdom and developing a better way to measure wisdom. Below is a link to the Survey. Your participation is voluntary. We expect the full set of questions to take about 60…
Read More
Ph.D. Student, Alison Balbag, was featured in National Geographic for her work on mapping the positive effects of playing a musical instrument on brain growth and cognitive function. Her studies support research that demonstrates the increase in brain activity and enhanced neural connections.
Read More
With guidance from Dr. Sean Curran and Dr. ShanShan Pang of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, gerontology honors student, Elaine Roh made a lasting impression on the judges with her study entitled: Adaptive Capacity to Bacterial Diet Modulates Aging in C. elegans.
Read More
Alexander Woodman, a student in the Master of Science in Gerontology program was recently awarded an Academic Support Peer Achievement Award for significant contributions advising and tutoring students who craved the opportunity to transfer to USC from other colleges and universities around the world. As a former Bruin who has flourished at USC, Alexander enjoys opening the door of opportunity for ambitious people who want to join the Trojan family.
Prior to coming to USC, Alexander built his career developing and facilitating culturally and socially-diverse intercultural discussions among academics studying social justices and cultural diversity. He worked closely with scholars from Thailand, Cambodia, France, and the United Arab Emirates to develop research papers studying public health and social issues facing local populations and migrants to these countries now facing minority status. He gained a passion for Autopathography, an experience where older adults explore how their health issues affect their daily lives. This experience opened his eyes to the reality of aging, and inspired his interest in research on aging.
Alexander is writing a research paper now, in collaboration with Dr. Aaron Hagedorn, analyzing data he collected in Thailand using surveys that investigate the health and social needs of migrants in Thailand accessing local health care resources. He plans to eventually become a scholar focused on issues of gerontology, global health, and life –span development. Alexander will spend his summer at Harvard University working collaboratively with faculty at Harvard School of Public Health on a research project. He enjoys mentoring and advising students as part of their and his professional development and interest in academic leadership.
Alexander is grateful to the scholarship donors who have made his dream of learning from the best and brightest in the field of Aging possible.
- Master of Science in Gerontology Readies Student for Career in Global Public Health and Research
- People with Rare Longevity Mutation May Also Be Protected from Cardiovascular Disease
- Study: direct-to-patient educational material helps older adults reduce their benzodiazepine use
- Helping USC Eat Healthy, One Choice at a Time
- Celebrating Professor Emeritus Jon Pynoos
