Award Winners
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
Boaz Kahana, Ph. D.
Professor, Department of Psychology, Cleveland State University
2021 Practitioner of the Year
Ken D. Wilson
Vice President of Program Operations, Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio
2021 Educator of the Year
Toni Lynn Bisconti, Ph. D.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Akron
2021 Researcher of the Year
Farida Kassim Ejaz, Ph.D., LISW-S, FGSA
Senior Research Scientist, Center for Research and Education, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
2020 Practitioner of the Year
Terry McQuillen
Director of Life Enrichment and Volunteer Coordinator, LSS The Good Shepherd, Ashland,
Ohio
2020 Researcher of the Year
Katherine (Katy) Abbott, Ph.D, M.G.S.
Associate Professor, Miami University, Dept. of Sociology and Gerontology, Research Fellow,
Scripps Gerontology Center
2019 Educator of the Year
Dr. Jennifer Kinney has taught nearly forty different courses on aging in her career, from undergraduate introductory classes to doctoral research courses.
2019 Researcher of the Year
Dr. Carol J. Whitlatch has contributed important innovations in gerontological practice in the area of dementia care and caregiving.
2019 Practitioner of the Year
Executive Director Shon Earl Gress is a tireless advocate for older adults in his area and all of Ohio.
2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Raymond Matura is a founding member of OAGE who has been dedicated in his service to OAGE for over 40 years.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Harvey Sterns
Dr. Sterns has been one of the most active and visible psychologists in the field of aging in the State of Ohio and beyond.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Marc Molea, AICP, Ohio Department of Aging is the 10th recipient of the OAGE Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging exemplary long-term contributions working with and on behalf of older adults in Ohio.
2018 Researcher of the Year
Dr. Jennifer Tehan Stanley, PhD studies socioemotional functioning across the lifespan, focusing on two broad areas of aging and emotional life: emotion recognition and emotion regulation.
2018 Practitioner of the Year
Judge Robert N. Rusu, Jr. has had a positive impact on many seniors and future gerontologists through his work as a Probate Judge of the Mahoning County Probate Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas.
2018 Educator of the Year
Dr. Laura Landry-Meyer is currently the program coordinator for the undergraduate program in Human Development and Family Studies and is a graduate faculty member in the graduate Gerontology program at Bowling Green State University.
2017 Researcher of the Year
Dr. Phyllis A. Cummins’ research interests focus on lifelong learning, workforce development, and job training activities for middle-aged and older workers,
2017 Practitioner of the Year
Duana Patton has over 28 years of management experience with an emphasis in Operations, Human Resources, Finance and Long Term Care in the non-profit sector.
2017 Educator of the Year
Dr. Kate de Medeiros is currently an associate professor of gerontology, Chief Departmental Advisor for gerontology, and Chair of the Undergraduate Research Committee at Miami University.
2016 Educator of the Year
Wendy K. Watson, PhD
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Gerontology Program
Bowling Green State University
Dr. Wendy Watson is currently the program coordinator for the undergraduate and graduate programs in Gerontology at Bowling Green State University.
2016 Researcher of the Year
Aloen L. Townsend, PhD
Professor
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Townsend’s primary research interests are in adult development and aging, family relationships, mental and physical health, and the interface between families and formal service systems.
2016 Practitioner of the Year – Individual
Nina R. Keller, MSW
Assistant Director
Area Agency on Aging, District 7
Nina Keller, MSW, has worked at the Area Agency on Aging (District 7) for 26 years and currently serves as the Assistant Director.
2016 Practitioner of the Year – Organization
United Church Homes
United Church Homes (UCH) is focused on developing leaders for the field of Long Term Care Services and Supports to provide quality services for older adults.
2015 Practitioner of the Year
Joseph Rossi
Executive Director
Area Agency on Aging XI, Youngstown, Ohio
Joe has worked in the aging network for over 20 years and is a graduate of Youngstown State University and The Ohio State University.
2015 Researcher of the Year
Virginia E. Richardson
Professor in Clinical Practice and Research
College of Social Work, The Ohio State University
Virginia “Ginny” Richardson has held numerous leadership positions throughout her career including the Director of Aging Research for the Office of Geriatrics and Gerontology at Ohio State and President of the Association for Gerontological Education in Social Work.
2015 Educator of the Year
Daniel J. Van Dussen
Associate Professor of Gerontology
Youngstown State University
He started teaching in 2006 at Youngstown State University teaching graduate and undergraduate courses ranging in topics from Medical Gerontology to Sociology of Health, Illness, and Healthcare. He created Youngstown State’s master’s degree program in gerontology with approval in 2013.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7), Pamela Matura, was recently surprised and humbled when she was awarded with a special Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE) at their recent conference at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio.
Practitioner of the Year
Antonia M. Carroll, MA, LSW
Director
Franklin County Office on Aging
Gerontology undergraduate with specialization in Long Term Care Administration.
Best Conference Theme of the Year
Laura B. Darlak
Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
Margaret Blenkner Research Institute
Focuses upon the influence of transpersonal psychology on the study of aging, spirituality, and religion.
Outstanding Gerontology Researcher of the Year
Heather L. Menne, Phd
Senior Research Scientist
Margaret Blenkner Research Institute
Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
Her research explores the theoretical underpinnings of the stress process for individuals with cognitive impairment, family caregivers, and formal caregivers. Her recent work includes ongoing evaluation of the evidence-based “Reducing Disability in Alzheimer’s Disease” program in Ohio.
Outstanding Gerontology Educator of the Year
Charles Stelle – Bowling Green State University
Dr. Charles Stelle, associate professor in the gerontology program at Bowling Green State University was named Educator of the Year for 2014 by the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE). Stelle was presented the award at the 38th annual OAGE conference on March 28, 2014 held in Dayton, Ohio.
Nominations
OAGE accepts nominations of individuals in Ohio to be recognized for their contributions in the areas of education, research, and practice. For more information, click on the links below.