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Welcome from Director

Welcome!

As the Director of the Gerontology Institute at Georgia State University, I am frequently asked:  “What is gerontology?”  “What can you do with that degree?” or “Why would you want to study that?” 

Gerontology is the interdisciplinary study of aging and older adults.  Gerontology is very diverse career with opportunities in almost every discipline.  The population around the globe is aging, as life expectancies rise and the number of adults living to older age increases.  In the next 20 years approximately 77 million American baby boomers will reach retirement age.  Many will be healthier and better off than previous generations, while others will reach older age after a lifetime of disadvantage.  This demographic shift influences all aspects of society. 

          • We need experts who are trained in gerontology to address the changing policy and service needs of this new population of elders. 
          • We need scholars to research issues of aging from fields of psychology, sociology, physical therapy, nursing, education, exercise science, social work, nutrition, law, real estate, economics, public health, criminal justice or any number of other fields. 

Over the past three decades, nearly 500 students have graduated from the Gerontology Institute.  During this time, the program has been committed to educating the next generation of experts in aging and conducting ground-breaking research in gerontology. Alumni of the Gerontology Institute work in throughout the field of aging in metropolitan Atlanta and beyond.  Our alumni have been strong supporters of Gerontology Programs at GSU, establishing endowed scholarships for graduate students, serving as internship supervisors, and networking through the Gerontology Alumni Club. 

Our Institute includes a core faculty of experts who work in the interdisciplinary field of gerontology and a diverse group of affiliate faculty who research aging issues within their own disciplines.  We offer a Masters Degree, Graduate Certificate, Undergraduate Certificate and an interdisciplinary minor in Gerontology.  Located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia State University offers our diverse student body a great deal of resources.

In January 2009, I took over as the new Director of the Gerontology Institute.  I am excited by the opportunity to promote Gerontology at Georgia State University and beyond.  As an affiliate faculty member of the Institute since 1997 and Director of Graduate Programs since 2004, I have been an advocate for the Institute for years.  I am proud of our strong tradition of education, research and leadership in the field of aging.  In the coming years, I will be working with colleagues, students and alumni to strengthen our programs, establish new partnerships, recruit more students to our academic programs and increase the overall visibility of Gerontology at Georgia State and throughout the community.

I encourage you to explore our website and learn more about the Gerontology Institute programs, faculty, students, and alumni.  You can also find us on Facebook. We look forward to hearing from you.
 
Elisabeth O. Burgess
Director, Gerontology Institute
eburgess@gsu.edu
404-413-5213