CEO Blog

A new collaboration to build relationships between GSA and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is underway, and you’re invited to be a part of it.

As initiated by four alumni/faculty of HBCUs from within the GSA membership — Drs. Tamara Baker, Ashley Jennings, Tiffany Washington, and Felicia Wheaton — a kick-off meeting for all interested parties will take place online on Friday, October 22, from 1 to 2 pm. ET. If you are an alumni, faculty, staff, or student who represents an HBCU, or just want to learn more, please sign up and put this on your calendar.

How have ongoing challenges to saving for retirement been exacerbated by COVID-19-related job losses? How does the legacy of race discrimination lead to negative economic and health impacts for older people of color? How could a proposed All Generations Plan for Social Security be a solution for preventing poverty in older people?

The answers to these questions can be found in the latest issue of Public Policy & Aging Report (PP&AR), “Retirement Structures and Processes.”

The Society is looking for participants for our upcoming GSA Diversity Mentoring and Career Development Technical Assistance Workshop! This is a perfect opportunity for talented early-career investigators from underrepresented backgrounds. It’s being held online October 28 and 29, and participants are also expected to participate in GSA’s Annual Scientific Meeting in November.

The next convening of the National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) is taking place with an open portion of the meeting accessible via live videocast from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 15. This is a convenient way to get a birds-eye view of what’s been happening, and what’s in store, at the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with which many GSA members have long-standing relationships.

I currently serve as a member of the council, which convenes three times annually. It reviews new proposed concept clearances, reviews applications for grants and cooperative agreements for research and training, and recommends approval of applications for projects that show promise, along with other duties.

As we wrap up the 2021 National Immunization Awareness Month, it’s also back-to-school season. There are many debates taking place right now about vaccine requirements and masking in local school districts and across campuses. And as many GSA members are based in university settings, they may find themselves engaged in dialog with people approaching these issues from many perspectives — not to mention with family and friends as well!