The GSA Annual Meeting Comes to Boston

View photo gallery: UMass Boston at the GSA Annual Meeting

The Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America came to Boston this year, and a record number of students, faculty, and alumni of UMass Boston Gerontology were part of the event. The department contributed about 120 presentations, both podium and poster, during the conference, which was held November 12 to 15, 2025. Edward Alan Miller, chair of the UMass Boston Gerontology Department, joked that he couldn’t stand in one place for a minute without spotting a familiar face from the school.

The theme of the conference was, “Innovative Horizons in Gerontology.” With more than 4,200 people in attendance, it was a priceless opportunity to gather, discuss new research, and to network with others in the field. For the nearly 40 UMass Boston doctoral students who attended, the meeting held special importance.

“Especially for students, a conference like this socializes them to the profession,” Miller says. “For many, it may be their first time presenting, whether at a poster or a podium. It may be their first time interacting in a professional context within this career they’ve chosen. And it’s certainly a point of pride for faculty to be able to see their accomplishments and recognitions as early career professionals.”

The UMass Boston Gerontology booth stayed busy, with more than 300 recorded check-ins from attendees among the numerous others who came to learn more about Gerontology Department academic offerings and Gerontology Institute programs. It was the first GSA annual meeting for Becky Tolman, who joined the UMass Boston Gerontology Department as director of the Management of Aging Service (MAS) program this fall. At the booth, Tolman spoke with attendees who were curious about the MAS degree. But she said she learned as much as she shared, as Tolman talked with UMass Boston Gerontology students, faculty, fellows, and alumni from around the world.

“Seeing that work firsthand helped me think about how it connects to our applied MAS program, especially how we prepare students who are already working in the field to implement interventions and creative programming that respond to the issues highlighted in current research,” Tolman says.

For UMass Boston, one conference highlight was the presentation for the Maxwell A. Pollack Award for Contributions to Healthy Aging. Last year, Miller was awarded the honor, which recognizes achievements in melding the worlds of research, policy, and practice. This year, it was Miller’s turn to give his Pollack Award presentation.

In his talk, “Taking the Long View: An Evolving, Multi-Dimensional Arc to Advancing Aging Policy and Practice,” Miller recounted the path of his career and the evolutions in the field during that time. His career has had an emphasis on long-term supports and services, an area which captured his interest as a college senior interning in Washington, D.C. He recounted what has changed, and which challenges persist.

“Back when I started, we were talking about preparing for the coming wave of older adults—decades away—in need of long-term care with the aging of the Baby Boom generation,” Miller says. “We’re still vastly underprepared for it. Even though we’ve made progress, we’re still dealing with many of the same issues now that we were anticipating then.”

During his talk, Miller said that one constant throughout his time in the field has been a commitment to mentorship and collaboration. It’s a commitment shared by his colleagues at UMass Boston, one that works to diversify and grow the workforce in aging.

“How lucky am I to be a professor, to teach, think, write, and research topics and questions that interest me for a living?” Miller says, reflecting on his career. “This is particularly true in gerontology, which is inherently interdisciplinary. Team science is key. I get to collaborate with people who do all sorts of work, who have all different kinds of expertise. And I love that.”

That collaboration was on display through the conference this month, as the UMass Boston Gerontology team met with thousands of gerontology professionals from around the world, all sharing a dedication to the study of aging well. Whether sharing research at presentations or sharing conversations at evening receptions, the synergy showed the momentum and teamwork within the field.

“This conference is a chance for us to disseminate our research, to connect with colleagues who are doing work in similar areas,” Miller says. “After a certain period, these collaborators become your friends, and together, you get inspired by their work and get new ideas for future projects.”

GSA Annual Meeting: Awards, Recognitions, and Leadership

Alumni:

• Shayna Gleason: Transportation and Aging Interest Group Co-Convener
• Lien Quach: Academy of Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) International Taskforce Chair
• Taylor Jansen: Social Research, Policy and Practice (SRPP) Section Junior Leader

Students:

• Janelle Fassi: 2025 AGHE Graduate Student Paper Award Winner; 2025 AGHE Student Leadership Award
• Brittany McFeeley: SRPP Travel Stipend Award
• Changmin Peng, Carol Schutz Travel Stipend Award

Faculty:

• Edward Alan Miller: 2024 Maxwell Pollack Award Winner Presentation
• Jeffrey Stokes: Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS) Section Vice Chair-Elect
• Qian Song: Chinese Gerontology Interest Group Co-Convene
• Nina Silverstein (emeritus): AGHE Age-Inclusivity Education Workgroup Member, Peterson Award Review Committee Member

Fellows:

• Joann Montepare: AGHE Age-Inclusivity in Higher Education Workgroup Chair; Age-Inclusivity in Higher Education Interest Group Co-Convener; GSA Membership Committee Incoming chair.

Photo Gallery