The Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW), along with support from the Gerontological Association (GSA), will provide support for a cohort of ten social work doctoral students who have completed the first year of doctoral studies. The goal of this program is to support dissertation and career development in gerontological social work research and education. Recipients will receive more than ten hours of programming delivered by nationally recognized experts in gerontological social work research and teaching designed to prepare participants for an academic career in gerontological social work. The Program will be delivered at the 2013 Gerontological Society of America (GSA) conference in New Orleans. Awardees will be selected by the AGESW Pre-Dissertation Advisory Council.

Click here to see the 2012 Awardees.

Project Co-Directors

Carmen Morano, PhD cmorano@hunter.cuny.edu 212-396-7547	Marla Berg-Weger, PhD bergwm@slu.edu (314) 977-2151

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of participation in the AGESW Gerontological Social Work Pre-Dissertation Initiative, participants will have the skills necessary to:

• Prepare an application for financial support of their dissertation research in gerontology.
• Develop a career plan that integrates their proposed teaching-scholarship.
• Develop a course syllabus related to gerontological social work.

Participant Benefits

• A $1000 stipend to attend the pre-conference AGESW Pre-Dissertation Initiative Training at the GSA Annual Meeting
• One-year membership to AGESW
• Registration for the GSA Annual Meeting
• One-year membership to GSA
• Ongoing mentoring from a member of AGESW
• Participation in a webinar on a topic to be determined by the cohort. Past topics have included job interview skills.

Program Eligibility

• Applicant must be enrolled in a doctoral program (full or part time) in the United States
• Applicant must not have completed more than two years of his/her doctoral program at the time of application (i.e., Pre-Dissertation stage, and not have submitted the dissertation proposal)
• Applicant must secure the sponsorship of a faculty member-commitment from a faculty member that she/he has reviewed and supports the application and can attest to the applicant’s qualifications and interest in gerontological social work research and/or education
• Applicant must secure institutional support-commitment from the Dean, Director or program administrator that the institution will support the applicant with a matching stipend ($500)
• Applicant must be a United States citizen or have permanent resident or resident alien status
• Multiple applicants from a given doctoral program may be selected

The Application

• Cover Sheet (click here for form)
• Applicant’s Curriculum Vita
• A two-page single-spaced personal statement indicating 1) applicant’s educational journey prior to entering the doctoral program, 2) interest in gerontological social work research and education and 3) career goals
• A letter of support from an institutional faculty sponsor
• A letter confirming institutional support from program director for attending Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA)

By May 1, 2013, applications may be submitted as one PDF file via email to Joyce McDaniel at joyce@agesw.org.

Selection Process

The Award will be chosen based on the AGESW Advisory Council criteria:

• Personal Statement 60%
• Letter of Support 20%
• Institutional Support 20%

Program

Full-day Pre-Conference Intensive at the 66th Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America to be held in 2013

• Interdisciplinary Research
• Quantitative-Qualitative-Mixed Method Research Proposals
• Writing for publication
• The role of teaching in your academic career
• Seeking Funding for Gerontological Dissertations

Daily Eye-Opener sessions

• Day 1 Working with mentors
• Day 2 Building your plan for funding support
• Day 3 Next Steps

Questions

Contact Dr. Carmen Morano at cmorano@hunter.cuny.edu