Thursday, March 28, 2013
Written by: University Communication and Marketing

The aging of America’s population is resulting in a shortage of people prepared to meet the unique needs of older adults. Every industry is being affected by population aging. New job opportunities are opening up. In response, the University of Iowa, in collaboration with the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Iowa State University (ISU), and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), is presenting a webinar series about Careers in Aging, which will take place throughout April.

The online seminars are being offered at no cost to participant—although registration is required—and are targeted at people who would like to learn more about career options, including high school students, college students, and adults in the workforce who are considering a career change.

Speakers and topics include:

  • April 4 - Janet Specht from the UI College of Nursing will speak about careers in nursing.
  • April 8 - Joe Sample from the Iowa Department on Aging and doctoral student at ISU will provide an overview of career options in social policy and advocacy. He will discuss federal and state government agencies and private organizations that work on behalf of older adults.
  • April 10 - Angie Burda from UNI will speak about careers in speech and language therapy.
  • April 15 - Shirley Sorenson and Trish Stull from DMACC will discuss management career options in residential settings that serve older adults.
  • April 26 - Topic to be announced. Check www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk/agingstudies/ for updates.
  • April 29 - Mercedes Bern-Klug from the UI will discuss careers in social work.

Although registration is limited to the first 100 people who sign-up, each webinar will be recorded and available to everyone online and free of charge on the UI’s Aging Studies Program website within two hours of the actual presentation. To register to participate in the webinar as it is happening, or to watch the recording afterwards, visit: www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk/agingstudies/.

The statewide event is building on an annual joint venture between The Gerontological Society of America and its educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education who are sponsoring Careers in Aging Week from April 7-13.

For more information, contact Mercedes Bern-Klug, associate professor in the UI School of Social Work and director of the aging studies program, at mercedes-bern-klug@uiowa.edu or 319-335-1265.