Miami University Gerontology Alumni
Making a difference for nearly fifty years!
Miami University’s gerontology academic programs date back to the 1970s. The Master of Gerontological Studies program was founded in 1977, the BA in Gerontology in 2000, the
This page is devoted to our gerontology alumni. Here we will highlight your accomplishments, post alumni photos, invite you to connect with us online or at upcoming events, and make it easy to update your contact information and support current students.
If you are
Members of the Alumni Advisory Group
BA in Gerontology
Julia Creswell Larimer ’15, Founder, Alz Well, LLC; Engage Life Director, Atria Highland Crossing
Emily Lubin ‘11, Online Learning Specialist, LeadingAge
Master of Gerontological Studies
Ashlee Cordell '19, Benjamin Rose Institute
Chelsea Gilchrist '14, Deputy Project Director, National Institute on Aging Information Center at IQ Solutions
Julie Kaminski '00, Senior Vice President and COO, Immanuel Communities
Katie Magyar, Current 2nd-Year MGS student
David Mancuso '99, Partner & Director of Sales, Troon Technologies
Kathryn Myles '91, Associate Director, Alumni Travel and Lifetime Engagement, Miami University Alumni Association
Quanhong Qiu (Cho) '01, Executive Director, Compassionate Community Care
Marisa Scala-Foley '95, Director, Aging and Disability Business Institute, n4a
Abby Schwartz '05, Assistant Professor, East Carolina University
PhD in Social Gerontology
Anna Rahman '11, Research Assistant Professor, USC Leonard Davis School of GerontologyTaka Yamashita '11, Associate Professor, University of Maryland Baltimore County
Recent Cottrell Awardees
2023 Dawn C. Carr, MGS '05, PhD '09, Associate Professor of Sociology, Director of the Claude Pepper Center
2022 Carrie Graham, MGS '95, Director, Long-Term Services and Supports, Center for Healthcare Strategies
2021 Angela Heath, MGS '82, Dean, Virtual Speaking Academy and CEO, TKC Incorporated
2021 Mark Kolada, MGS '98, Director of Operations Management, Life Care Services
2020 Taka Yamashita, PhD '11, Associate Professor, University of Maryland Baltimore County
2019 Julie Kaminski, MGS '00, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Immanuel
2018 Quanhong Qiu, MGS '01, Executive Director, Compassionate Community Care
2017 Heather Menne, MGS '01, Senior Health Policy Researcher, RTI International
2016 Rebecca Utz, MGS '99, Associate Professor, University of Utah
2015 Ken Wilson, MGS '94, Vice President of Program Operations, Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio
2014 Marisa Scala-Foley, MGS '95, Director, Aging and Disability Business Institute, n4a
Connect with Us
Join our Gerontology Alumni Facebook group
Update your contact information
Alumni Spotlights
Takashi Yamashita, PhD '11
The Scripps Gerontology Center is pleased to announce that Dr. Takashi Yamashita is the recipient of the 2020 W. Fred Cottrell Distinguished Alumni award.
Julie Kaminski, MGS '00
"That is one thing that I remember working with Suzanne Kunkel on a couple of research projects and her saying, 'challenge what it looks like on the surface and dig in a little bit deeper.' So I think being curious and not accepting things at face value. We need more curious people in this field. When our curiosity is tapped that innovation starts to happen and we can see things a little bit differently."
– Julie Kaminski, MGS '00
Julie Kaminski, (MGS '00) shares the story of her experience as an MGS student, career path, and offers advice to students.
Heather Menne, MGS '01
“.... the MGS program ... really felt to me like a place to grow in my areas of interest. I don’t remember feeling dissuaded from going down a path that not many were going down. Faculty
– Heather Menne, MGS '01
Heather Menne, (MGS '01) shares the story of her academic and career path and offers advice to students.
Quanhong “Cho” Qiu, MGS ’01
“I wouldn't have today’s success without the wonderful education and support I’ve received from Scripps. It has enabled me to successfully launch Compassionate Community Care (CCC) and keep it growing to serve many people in the San Francisco Bay Area.”
– Quanhong “Cho” Qiu, MGS ’01
Quanhong “Cho” Qiu (MGS ’01) discussed her career in gerontology with us and shared advice to current students who are studying gerontology.
Marisa Scala-Foley, MGS '95
"Where Miami really stands out is the ability to work directly with some of the top leaders in the field."
– Marisa Scala-Foley, MGS '95
Marisa Scala-Foley (MGS '95) explains why Miami was her top choice for her masters in gerontology. Marisa is the Director for the Office of Policy Analysis & Development at the Administration for Community Living.
Alumni News
Alumni Meet Ups
Join other gerontology alumni virtually to connect and hear from guest speakers. These events typically occur every other month. Keep an eye on your email inbox for the next invite. Not sure if you are on our email list? You can update your contact info with this form.
Dr. Takashi Yamashita selected for the 2020 Cottrell Distinguished Alumni Award
Alumni making a difference
On Friday, April 10, 2020 we asked Miami University Gerontology Alumni to tell us about the roles they played (paid or volunteer, large or small) to make a positive difference during the COVID-19 pandemic. We gathered their responses and were overwhelmed with the selflessness of our alumni.