PITT FACULTY MEMBER WINS NATIONAL HONOR FOR WORK WITH OLDER ADULTS

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 20 -- Sally Newman, executive director of the University of Pittsburgh's Generations Together program, has been named

a fellow by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE)

"for her outstanding leadership in gerontology/geriatrics education."

Newman, who founded Generations Together at Pitt in 1979, has long been a leader in the creation of intergenerational volunteer, mentoring and arts programs, which have been used as successful models elsewhere. Under her leadership, Generations Together has been at the forefront of intergenerational research and has taken an active role in legislation and public policy.

One current project involves a partnership with AGHE to develop what is called "intergenerational service learning" at universities across the country. "Many gerontology courses are straightforward and academic, with no contact with the elderly," Newman explained. "What we're doing is helping 10 universities a year shift to a service learning approach -- putting students out into the community to develop programs for older adults. With the help of community agencies, the universities develop courses that provide hands-on activities for the elderly as well as academic learning for the students." Generations Together supplied the funding to launch the first 10 of these important partnerships; Newman turns her attention toward another 10 this year.

Newman has also worked on older adult memory function and the impact of small children interacting with Alzheimer's disease patients.

She recently completed the first study of its kind on the role of older adults as child caregivers. "We're hoping we can make a case for child care centers across the country to involve older adults because they bring something unique and valuable to child care," said Newman. "Our research shows their contribution is complementary to that of a younger professionally-trained child care giver. This could change the quality of the child care environment."

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