The Global Aging Project (GAP) investigates the social, health, and policy challenges of aging populations worldwide, with a focus on cross-national comparisons, social determinants of health, and the influence of community and policy interventions. Its research explores critical issues such as “kinlessness”, health disparities, and the role of education and social support in shaping well-being among older adults, generating insights that inform policies to foster healthier aging across diverse global contexts.
Student projects include research on social ties and mental health in older Hispanic adults, aging biomarkers and elder abuse, the health impacts of life transitions like immigration and bereavement, and global research on dementia care and brain injury in older adults.
FACULTY LEADS
Takashi Yamashita
(PhD, Gerontology)
Dr. Yamashita researches adult literacy, health disparities, and aging from a global perspective, exploring how education, literacy, and health intersect across diverse cultural and policy contexts. His work examines variations in aging experiences and healthcare access, contributing to research that seeks to inform policies aimed at improving well-being and support for older adults worldwide.
Christine A. Mair
(PhD, Sociology)
Dr. Mair’s research examines how family and non-family ties influence social support and well-being, with a focus on how these processes shape mental health, physical health, and care experiences across diverse global contexts. Her work explores variations in aging experiences and global differences in social connectedness and care systems to inform more effective aging policies worldwide.
TEAM
Jaminette Nazario-Acevedo
(MPH, Gerontology)
Jaminette is a PhD student in Gerontology specializing in the Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Sciences track at UMB-UMBC, with a background in social sciences and public health. Also pursuing an Applied Master’s in Sociology, her research focuses on health outcomes, social ties, and mental health among older Hispanic adults, particularly Puerto Ricans, examining marital quality and depressive symptoms. Dedicated to improving well-being in this population, she aims to integrate social relationships into health interventions and public health strategies for healthier, more connected aging communities.
Aman Shrestha
(MA, Gerontology & Population Studies)
Aman is a doctoral student in Gerontology (Epidemiology track) at UMB-UMBC, has an academic background in demography, gerontology, and applied statistics. With experience in nonprofit work, clinical administration, and research leadership in Nepal and the United States, he specializes in quantitative and qualitative analysis. His research focuses on aging biomarkers, elder abuse, the demographics of aging, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He also serves as a Graduate Council Student Representative for the Graduate Student Association.
Rose Anderson
(MA, Applied Sociology)
Rosie is pursuing her PhD in Gerontology at UMB-UMBC, after earning her master’s in applied sociology from UMBC in 2023. Her research is focused on how life transitions like immigration and bereavement impact mental and physical health, with an emphasis on family relationships, cultural background, and social support networks. She uses both quantitative and qualitative methods in her work. Her goal is to better understand how these factors interact to influence health outcomes.
Yoon Chung Kim
(MHS, Mental Health)
Yoon is a PhD student in Gerontology at UMB-UMBC in the epidemiology track, with a background in international finance and counseling psychology. She has studied aging and mental health at Seoul National University, Georgetown, and Johns Hopkins. At UMB-UMBC, she has contributed to research on dementia care, programs for those living alone with dementia, and traumatic brain injury in older adults. Skilled in qualitative and quantitative methods, she aims to expand global research on aging and ADRD.