Rita Hu Receives Prestigious Gerontological Society of America Dissertation Award
We are proud to announce that Rita Hu, Provost's Postdoctoral Fellow and an emerging leader in the field of gerontology, has been awarded the Behavioral and Social Sciences Section Student Research Dissertation Award by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).
This prestigious recognition honors her paper, "Individual Caregiving History Trajectories' Impact on Later-Life Self-Perceptions of Aging," which takes a life-course approach to understanding how caregiving experiences shape individuals' views on aging. Her study highlights that lifelong caregivers—often those who care for multiple family members across various life stages—are more likely to hold negative self-perceptions of aging, which can have detrimental effects on their health and well-being. The research underscores the importance of adopting a life-course perspective in caregiving support and addressing the unique needs of lifelong caregivers, such as those supporting children with chronic conditions or disabilities.
This award was officially presented at the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting on November 14, 2024, celebrating Dr. Hu’s contributions to the field and her potential to advance gerontological scholarship and practice.
In addition, Dr. Hu will begin serving as Chair of GSA’s Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization in January 2025, further solidifying her role as a thought leader and advocate for impactful research in aging and caregiving.
We congratulate Rita Hu, PhD, on this remarkable achievement and invite you to learn more about her research, reshaping the conversation around aging, caregiving, and health equity.