Catherine Tompkins, assistant dean for undergraduate studies for CHHS and associate professor of social work, was named a 2015 fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) during the organization’s annual scientific meeting, held in mid-November in Orlando.
GSA is the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging. The GSA fellow recognition is the highest class of membership within GSA. Recipients are selected based on their continuing work in gerontology, including teaching, research, administration, public service, and practice.
“Being named a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America is a well-deserved acknowledgement of the work, both in the classroom and through research that Dr. Tompkins is doing to improve the lives of the aging population,” said Thomas Prohaska, dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “Her focus on gerontological social work, including support services for Alzheimer’s patients and caregiving relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, contributes to ensuring people receive the necessary social support as they age and their needs change.”
Tompkins was one of 25 fellows in GSA’s social research, policy, and practice section. The 2015 class of fellows recognized 58 people across GSA’s four sections: biological sciences; health sciences; behavioral and social sciences; and social research, policy, and practice.