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.
The OAGE Educator Award recognizes individuals in Ohio’s educational institutions who have advanced gerontological education and training for students and practitioners and have used educational programs to improve services to older adults in Ohio. It is one of the highest honors for gerontology educators in Ohio and has been awarded since 1979.
Stelle teaches at the undergraduate introductory level to the advance graduate level.
He is anactive and visible partner in the field of aging and is instrumental in advocating for geronotology education for his students. Some of his students have noted that Dr. Stelle has a passion for older adults and community engagement and he brings that passion into the classroom.
Dr. Stelle is also an exceptional service-learning faculty member who has demonstrated great dedication to infusing a community based learning component into his courses. As an example he has integrated service learning into the GERO 3250 Applied Social Gerontology.
He is a strong advocate at the local level belonging to:
- Alzheimer’s Association of Northwest Ohio, Public Policy Committee
- WSOS Community Action Partnership board member
- Wood County Committee on Aging Board member and chair of the program planning and evaluation committee.
At the national level, he is a member of the Gerontological Society of America and past member of the National Council on Family Relations and the American Psychological Association.
At the university level,
- Current member of the Service Learning Faculty Learning Community
- Past member of the Teaching Diversity Learning Community and New Faculty Teaching and Writing Learning Community.
- Faculty affiliate with the Center for Family and Demographic Research
Amidst all this service to the community and professional organizations, he is regarded as ascholar. He has co-authored and/or edited 11 articles and has made 30 national and international refereed presentations.
Dr. Stelle is well respected by gerontology educators in Ohio and appreciated by his students for his level of focus and challenge. He has contributed significantly to the knowledge and critical reflection of his students on and off campus.
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.