James F. Nelson, PhD, Past President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Gerontological Society of America, is a Professor of Cellular and Integrative Physiology and the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Nelson’s research aims to understand the genetic and physiological basis for aging, using nutritional and pharmacologic interventions. His early work focused on female reproductive aging in mice and humans, with findings that continue to be highly cited. His studies of dietary restriction have identified an important role of hyperadrenocorticism in its anti-aging effects, as well as striking genetic variation in its ability to extend lifespan. For over two decades, he has participated in the National Institute on Aging Interventions Testing Program, which has identified 12 compounds that increase longevity in genetically heterogeneous mice. Many of these compounds are FDA approved for other purposes. His current work, analyzing the enormous lifespan dataset of the ITP, has uncovered striking sex differences in the life-extending efficacy of those drugs, and also in the age-specific mortality of the untreated mice that remarkably parallels that of humans. A major focus is to understand the biological bases for these sex differences in aging and drug efficacy, with the long-term goal of improving the lives of all of us as we grow older.

Susan Bluck is Director of the Life Story Lab and a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. She obtained her BA (Psychology) from the University of British Columbia, Canada, her PhD (Social Ecology) from the University of California, Irvine, USA, and did her postdoctoral work at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany. She is a lifespan developmental psychologist with an emphasis on adult development, aging, and the end-of-life. Her research examines the ways that individuals use memories of life’s experiences (i.e., remembering, autobiographical reasoning, life stories) to serve adaptive psychosocial functions in their current life context. Her contributions to both theory and measurement development are highly cited. Her empirical work demonstrates memory’s adaptive psychosocial functions: maintaining self-continuity, developing social bonds, and directing future behavior. In her most recent work she is collaborating with health professionals in palliative care to examine the last chapter of the life story - how and why people recall death-related events. This includes research on Dignity Therapy as a life story intervention for end of life. Her theoretical and empirical work appears in such journals as Psychology and Aging, The Gerontologist, Memory and Death Studies.

Dr. Jordan P. Lewis, Aleut, from the Native Village of Naknek, is the Associate Director of the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team and a Full Professor with the Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus. He is also the Co-Leader of the ADRD Data Sovereignty Advisory Group. Jordan is trained as a cross-cultural community psychologist and social worker, and a credential professional gerontologist. His expertise is in Indigenous successful aging, generativity and healthy aging, and Indigenous constructions of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.

Over the past decade, Dr. Lewis’s research agenda has significantly contributed to the field with community-based research discussions on cultural-specific approaches in Alaska Native (AN) successful aging and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) among Alaska Native Elders, including the development of a model and measure of Alaska Native successful aging. His research has also developed the concept of indigenous cultural generativity and exploring its role as a critical resilience resource has important implications for the wellbeing of Alaska Native/American Indians/Indigenous peoples, including Elders, dementia caregivers, and family and community members.

Dr. Lena Thompson conducts research to promote the wellbeing of older adults. Her “We act as one: Intersections between culture and Native Elder disaster management” explored Native Elder perceptions of natural disaster management and practices. Lena is a postdoc with the Alaska Native Successful Aging Project supported by the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team at the University of Minnesota Duluth Medical School, and a graduate of the University of Iowa department of Community and Behavioral Health. She lives in Seattle with her partner and small dog.