Gerontology Society of Iowa’s mission
- To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information about aging and to facilitate collegial relationships among the membership
- To promote the growth of gerontological knowledge through research, education, and its application in areas of practice in the field
- To promote a standard of excellence to guide the activities of professionals and practitioners in the field of aging
- To advance knowledge about aging throughout Iowa
Meet the Gerontology Society of Iowa Board of Directors
Joe Sample is the Executive Director of the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging and GSI Board President. He is working on a Ph.D. in Human Development & Family Studies, with a focus on gerontology, at Iowa State University.
Mike Isaacson is Senior VP of Business Development at VGM & Associates and GSI Board Vice President. He is the former CEO at Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging.
Michelle Buhman is a program specialist at the Iowa City Senior Center and earned an M.S. in gerontology at Iowa State University. She is the past chair of Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living (TRAIL) of Johnson County.
Alyvia King is an undergraduate student in Human Development & Family Studies at Iowa State University. She is the GSI Board Secretary and Student Ambassador.
Deanna Clingan-Fischer is retired and served as Iowa’s State Longterm Care Ombudsman and as Iowa State Universities Student Ombdusman. She is one of the founding GSI board members.
Kelsey Hollen is a service coordinator with an independent apartment complex for older adults. She has a B.S. in gerontology.
Jennifer Margrett, Ph.D. is a Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and Director of the Gerontology Program at Iowa State University. She works with interdisciplinary collaborators on research, education, and outreach related to optimizing everyday life throughout adulthood.
Joel Olah, Ph.D., is Executive Director of Aging Resources of Central Iowa and has been active in aging services and health care administration for over 40 years. Joel is a founding member of GSI.
Sato Ashida, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of public health at the University of Iowa and part of the university’s aging consortium.
Marianne Smith, Ph.D., RN, is an Associate Professor of Nursing and Director of the Csomay Center for Gerontological Nursing at the University of Iowa. She currently leads the Iowa Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program that supports the Iowa Geriatric Education Center.
Gerontology Society of Iowa 