The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) -- the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging -- has chosen Yuri Jang, PhD of The University of Southern California as the 2018 recipient of the Minority Issues in Gerontology Committee Outstanding Mentorship Award.
This distinguished honor is given annually to an individual who has exemplified outstanding commitment and dedication to mentoring minority researchers in the field of aging.
The award presentation will take place at GSA's 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 14 to 18 in Boston, Massachusetts. This conference is organized to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners who specialize in the study of the aging process. Visit http://www.geron.org/2018 for further details.
Jang is a professor at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at The University of Southern California and a senior fellow of the Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging. She was previously affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin and the University of South Florida. She is widely recognized as an outstanding professional, researcher, and teacher on minority aging issues and is an author of over 110 peer?reviewed publications in prestigious peer-reviewed journals, as well as several book chapters. She also is a devoted mentor who has a deep commitment and dedication to mentoring to minority students.
During her 15 years as a faculty member, Jang has mentored more than 30 scholars at various levels, including five doctoral students as chair, and five post?doctoral fellows who possess a budding interest in minority aging research.
Her mentees describe her as a passionate and exceptional mentor who has inspired them to pursue research and careers intended to promote the well-being of minority older adults.
"She always directed me to excellent opportunities to get involved with health disparities projects and to become more involved with service to professional organizations, including GSA," noted one of her mentees.
She currently holds the office of GSA secretary and is a past recipient of GSA's Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization Interdisciplinary Paper Award and Minority Fellowship. Jang is a GSA fellow, which represents the highest category of membership within the Society. She has also been the recipient of several other prestigious awards, including the Emerging Professional Award for the American Psychological Association and the Career Achievement Award from the Korean American Social Work Educator Association Council on Social Work Education.
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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society -- and its 5,500+ members -- is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA's structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society, and an educational branch, the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education.