Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center
Encyclopedia
The Ethel Percy Andrus
Gerontology Center, one of the first centers for gerontology
research in the U.S., was founded at the University of Southern California
in 1964. The center was expanded in 1975 with the inception of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
, the first school of gerontology in the country. James Birren
served as the founding dean for the school, and maintains ties through teaching a course on Guided Autobiography. The Andrus Center is currently regarded as a leader in its field, housing many prominent researchers who cover the gamut of gerontology.
Pre and postdoctoral research training with an aging emphasis is facilitated with two training grants: Multidisciplinary Training in Aging, Eileen Crimmins, Principal Investigator; and Training in Endocrinology and Neurobiology of Aging, Caleb Finch, Principal Investigator.
When the Andrus Center was founded in 1964, its mission was to improve the quality of life for older adults. The Center provides services to older individuals and their families though several of its research centers and its service units.
Current research includes many diverse projects, such as the USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health (CBPH), California Center for Long Term Care Integration and the Long Beach Longitudinal Study (LBLS).
Ethel Percy Andrus
Ethel Percy Andrus was a long-time educator and the first woman high school principal in California. She was also the founder of AARP in 1958. In 1995 she was designated a Women's History Month Honoree by the National Women's History Project.-Life:She earned a bachelor of philosophy Ethel Percy...
Gerontology Center, one of the first centers for gerontology
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
research in the U.S., was founded at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1964. The center was expanded in 1975 with the inception of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California, a leader in the field of gerontology, has pioneered educational programs including the world's first Ph.D. in Gerontology, the first joint Master's degree in Gerontology and Business Administration, and the first...
, the first school of gerontology in the country. James Birren
James Birren
James E. Birren, Ph.D., is one of the founders of the organized field of gerontology since the 1940s . He is a past president of The Gerontological Society of America, and author of over 250 publications.-Theories:Birren is known for defining aging as three distinct processes: primary, secondary,...
served as the founding dean for the school, and maintains ties through teaching a course on Guided Autobiography. The Andrus Center is currently regarded as a leader in its field, housing many prominent researchers who cover the gamut of gerontology.
Andrus Gerontology Center
The Andrus Gerontology Center is the research arm of the Davis School. Its mission is to encourage basic and applied research in aging. Faculty conduct interdisciplinary projects in neurobiology, molecular biology, cognitive psychology, biodemography, family studies, long term care, and other topics. Click the individual faculty link for more information. The Andrus Center hosts the sponsored research centers and major research projects listed below.Pre and postdoctoral research training with an aging emphasis is facilitated with two training grants: Multidisciplinary Training in Aging, Eileen Crimmins, Principal Investigator; and Training in Endocrinology and Neurobiology of Aging, Caleb Finch, Principal Investigator.
When the Andrus Center was founded in 1964, its mission was to improve the quality of life for older adults. The Center provides services to older individuals and their families though several of its research centers and its service units.
Research
As part of USC's robust research community, the USC Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center is one of the world's leaders in aging research. As the nation's first multidisciplinary research center devoted to human development and aging, the primary goal of the center is to provide scientific information about the processes of aging and to understand how that information can be applied to individuals, families, organizations and society.Current research includes many diverse projects, such as the USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health (CBPH), California Center for Long Term Care Integration and the Long Beach Longitudinal Study (LBLS).