Georgia Southern students present research at Social Gerontology Conference

November 1, 2017

[caption id="attachment_7727" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Six undergraduate students present research at the Social Gerontology Conference in October.[/caption] Six undergraduate students from Georgia Southern University presented their research at the 2nd annual Social Gerontology Conference, hosted by the Center for Social Gerontology. The conference was held Oct. 13 at the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center. Students presented their work to conference attendees in a traditional poster presentation format. Their research covered a variety of topics all within the gerontology field. Jennifer Zorotovich, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Human Ecology, said this helps students apply what they learn in the classroom in a real-world setting. “The School of Human Ecology places a high value on student scholarship and affording students opportunities to establish a professional presence in their associated fields,” She said. “Doing so serves as a platform for students to apply what they learn within their discipline in meaningful ways and contributes to their preparedness for future endeavors.” Reagan Hicks, senior psychology major with a minor in child and family development, used the inspiration she gained from a recent study abroad trip to Paris to look at ways in which she could apply gerontology to cultures around the world for her research. She presented her research titled, “A Long Slow Dance with Age: Contributors to Longevity Across the Globe.” “I had an amazing experience at this conference,” she said. “I felt like I learned so much from each breakout session, and I really enjoyed being surrounded by individuals that were able to give me advice on careers in psychology, social work, etc. This conference made we want to attend several more.” In addition to Hicks, the following students presented their research during the poster presentation:

• Ashley Doolittle: “Multidisciplinary Death Education: Comparing Biology vs. Social Science”
• Brianna Flowers: “An Analysis of Sex Education and Sexual Behavior among Older Adults (65+)”
• Nicole Furphy: “Intimate Partner Violence in Older Adults”
• Justin McKinney: “Dementia and Mental Health Stigma Toward Older Adults”
• Carolyn Miller: “Social Determinants of Mental Health and Well-Being in Aging Adults”

Students were mentored by Zorotovich and Nadia Flanigan, Ph.D., instructor in the School of Human Ecology. Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 118 degree programs serving 20,673 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.