News Release

New Network Links Gerontologists In North Carolina’s Independent Colleges: Institute on Aging to Support NCCAN (North Carolina Colleges Aging Network)

February 24, 2008

Friday, February 22nd marked the inaugural meeting of a network to link gerontologists in North Carolina’s small independent colleges. NCCAN, the North Carolina Colleges Aging Network, became a reality, with ten colleges participating in the launch. Eight of these colleges were represented at the meeting, with two unrepresented because of the icy road conditions in parts of the state on the day of meeting. The meeting was also attended by Kathryn Lanier, NC Division of Aging and Adult Services, and Victor Marshall, Director of the UNC Institute on Aging, which hosted the meeting. The Division on Aging and Adult Services is interested in working with this network because it is seeking ways to connect with potential students, current students, and graduates of gerontology to make them aware of career opportunities within state government, potential internship possibilities, and/or having a mentor who can serve as a guide during and after their course of study.

The NCCAN participants agreed to collaborate in a number of ways such as by sharing course syllabi, developing collaborative research, making students available to participate in studies, and sharing resources. Follow-up meetings will be held at the UNC Institute on Aging in May and August 2008, and the network will also meet at the North Carolina Conference on Aging, which will be held in Greenville, October 28-30.

Colleges and universities participating in NCCAN include Barton College (Dr. Steve Fulks), Campbell University (Dr. Constantine Kledaras), Elon University (Dr. Seena Granowsky and Dr. Amy Overman), Gardner-Webb University (Dr. Roger Gaddis and Dr. Bonnie Wright), High Point University (Dr. Kimberly Wear), Johnson C. Smith University (Dr. Dezette Johnson and Dr. Helen Taylor Caldwell), Meredith College (Dr. Cynthia Bishop and Dr. Carrie Cokely), North Carolina Wesleyan College (Dr. Ron Smith), St. Andrews Presbyterian College (Dr. Pamela Case), and Warren Wilson College (Dr. Alison Climo).

The UNC Institute on Aging will provide support to NCCAN by hosting meetings, maintaining an NCCAN web-page, and supporting a listserv for participants. Dr. Alison Climo, Social Work Program Director at Warren Wilson College, has accepted an appointment by the Institute to serve as “Founding Chair” of NCCAN until July 2009. By that time, the network should have developed an organizational structure. The network will set its own agenda and develop its own programs. The role of the UNC Institute on Aging will be to facilitate NCCAN’s activities, primarily through its communications, event planning, library and information services, and statewide networking involvements.

NCCAN welcomes participation from all small independent colleges and universities in North Carolina. For further information, see the NCCAN website at [not available] or contact Dr. Climo directly at aclimo@warren-wilson.edu.