Congratulations to the class of 2016_
eNews | Spring-Summer 2016
Spring is always a time to look ahead. Here at Scripps Gerontology Center it is also a time of reflection as the academic year draws to a close. Join us as we look back at 2015 with these highlights from our Annual Report

Our complete annual report is online  MiamiOH.edu/ScrippsAging/Annual-Report
director-MAKING A DIFFERENCE
THEN AND NOW

"Making a difference" has been the foundation of our mission statement for more than a decade.

Dear friends:

Many of you know the impressive history of the Scripps Gerontology Center. We proudly trace our roots back to the Scripps Foundation for Research in Population Problems, established in 1922 by E. W. Scripps as a center for the study of population growth and social change. For many decades, Scripps was home to ground-breaking demographic research. Scholars here developed the method of population projection most widely used today (including at the U.S. Census Bureau), and they were the first to integrate social science methods into the study of population change.   >> Read Suzanne's letter.
honorsHonors and Awards

We provide leadership in the field of aging 
  • Suzanne Kunkel received the 2015 Tibbitts Award, from the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE).
  • The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) designated Opening Minds through Art (OMA) as a Quality Improvement Project.
  • Generations United designated OMA as a Program of Distinction.
  • Scott Brown was inducted as Fellow in the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).
  • Robert Applebaum was inducted into The Ohio State University Social Work Hall of Fame.
>> Learn more about our honors and awards.


Meet our Colonial Services Research Award Winners

Identifying and addressing the needs of informal caregivers has been the research focus of Gerontology PhD student, Jennifer Heston. She has worked with both the Ohio Department of Aging and the Ohio Department of Medicaid to develop several caregiver assessment tools.
>> Read more about Jennifer.


The Scripps Opening Minds through Art (OMA) program has been the research focus of Social Gerontology PhD student Philip Sauer. Using video observations, Philip and a team of professors and graduate students studied to what extent older adults with dementia demonstrated behaviors of well-being and ill-being when performing OMA activities compared to traditional art activities.
>> Read more about Philip.

>> back to top
serviceService and Leadership

Our staff, faculty, and fellows provide professional service and leadership in many volunteer roles at the local, state, and national levels. They do everything from mentoring faculty at other institutions to serving on the editorial boards of publications, and holding leadership positions for state and national organizations as well as service to the community.  >> Learn more about our service work.


Learn more about graduate student leader Josie Rader's experience.
Opening Minds through Art (OMA)
An Intergenerational Art Program
for People with Dementia
Building bridges across age and cognitive barriers through art.

OMA was offered at 37 locations across the United States, Canada, and Europe in 2015, pairing approximately 600 volunteers with an equal number of people with neurocognitive disorders annually.

OMA provided 35 students with valuable leadership experience as student-leaders and 9 graduate students with research experience.

218 undergraduates volunteered with our Opening Minds through Art program (including 82 Miami honors students) resulting in 7,718 service-learning hours.
>> Learn more about OMA.
spotlightFeatured Spotlights
Shahla Mehdizadeh, PhD
Senior Research Scholar
"At my heart I am an economist and a data person . . . I [use] data to find answers for societal or population issues."

Dr. Mehdizadeh applies her talents as an economist to provide information that helps shape policies for older people with disabilities in Ohio.

>> Learn more about Shahla's work.



Katherine Abbott, MGS, PhD
Scripps Research Fellow
"The path to person-centered care is paved by preferences for everyday living and we're leading the way."

Dr. Abbott, her students and her colleagues are making a positive difference in the lives of older adults receiving long-term services and supports.

>> Learn more about Katherine's work.


Bringing the world of gerontology to Miami University for the inaugural North American Network in Aging Studies (NANAS) conference.

Associate Professor and Scripps Research Fellow Kate de Medeiros organized and convened the inaugural conference of NANAS in May. The NANAS conference provided a venue for scholars from North America and Europe to present findings on how various aspects of our culture have shaped what it means to grow old.

>> Learn more about the NANAS conference.

>> back to top
numbersBy the Numbers
(click on any graphic below to learn more)


$1,841,330 Total Operating Budget Calendar Year 2015



The core of our work is research.
We are a leading source for informed answers on aging.



Scripps managed a total of 41 grants in 2015
  
We mentor tomorrow_s experts in aging
By building graduate assistants into our research proposals, we were able to provide $125,705 in funding so students could receive hands-on experience with high-impact research projects. That translates to 11,637 graduate assistantship & summer research hours.
donorsDonors and Partners
We simply couldn_t do it without the support of so MANY who have given so much. Thank you for all you_ve done.


Thank you to our donors!

Their support helps extend our capacity to meet our mission

>> Learn more about our donors.








We have built strong, strategic
Partnerships
with organizations across the
country and the world.

Some of these partners provide internships for students and enrich the educational experience at Miami by providing expertise in our classrooms, small group sessions, and seminars. Many of our partners are host sites for Opening Minds through Art (OMA), our arts-based program that enriches the lives of elders with dementia. And many of our strongest relationships are with the agencies that fund and collaborate with us on research, keeping our work grounded, meaningful, and forward looking.

>> Learn more about our partnerships.

>> back to top
connectSo many ways to connect

Many of you have been an integral part of our present and past success.
Become a part of our future -- stay connected.
 
For the Latest news updates see our news page and
Facebook Link

The mission of the Scripps Gerontology Center is to do work that makes a positive difference in the lives of aging individuals, their families and communities, and to meet the needs of aging societies. This mission is accomplished through excellence in research, education, and service.

Founded at Miami University in 1922, the Center is one of the nation's top centers for research in aging. Scripps conducts the core of its research on a state and national level in the areas of demography, long-term care, program evaluation, and arts and dementia programming.