01/21/2025

2026 Researcher of the Year

Tina Dothard Peterson, PhD, MPH, MSW

Tina Dothard Peterson, PhD, MPH, MSW

2026 OAGE Researcher of the Year

Armed with a bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in social work, plus a Master of Public Health, Peterson’s 30-year career features a diverse mix of serving others through her various roles as a certified social worker, teaching at the collegiate level, pursuing grant and fellowship opportunities, serving on committees, and bolstering her research portfolio with numerous presentations and peer-reviewed scholarly publications. In addition to being an active member of several interest groups within GSA’s Behavioral and Social Sciences Section, Peterson is involved with Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE), Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, and Association for Professionals in Aging (APA).

“My career has been filled with some amazing mentoring opportunities,” Peterson says. “I’ve had some excellent exposure to scholars from across the country who have supported me and helped me get to where I am today.”

One of Peterson’s earliest mentors helped spark her interest in researching custodial grandparenting. While pursuing her PhD from the University of Alabama in the mid-2000s,Peterson worked as a research assistant for Dr. Martha Crowther, a psychology professor and national expert on grandparents raising grandchildren. Crowther enlisted Peterson to help lead a support group for grandparents raising grandchildren, which exposed her to the various challenges and health inequities that older adults in caregiving roles often experience. Peterson’s research interests have since expanded to include self-management of hypertension in older African American women family caregivers.

“As I get older, I want to be knowledgeable so I can improve how I take care of myself. I’m also trying to transfer knowledge so that my students are aware [of aging-related issues] and prepared to competently work with and on behalf of older adults and their family members,” Peterson says. “We are all aging. Every aspect of society is being touched by aging, and we need to make sure there are no discriminatory practices in place.”

Shaping the next generation of caregivers

As director of UC’s Aging Education Initiative, Peterson is dedicated to expanding interdisciplinary educational and research opportunities that are focused on caring for aging populations and accessible for faculty, staff, students, and community members. She’s also focused on establishing strategic goals for the program, starting with increasing visibility.

Peterson leverages her connections with local aging networks to increase awareness of the James Gruber Endowed Fund for Aging Education, which was established in2016 to fund the initiative. Named after lifelong social worker and Cincinnati resident James Gruber, the endowment supports his vision of improving geriatric care through educating young professionals on aging-related issues and how to properly care for older adults.

Thank you Dr. Peterson for your dedication!

Photo of Tina Dothard Peterson. Photo/Colleen Kelley/Photographer
Write up provided by Katie Coburn, kcoburn902@gmail.com