Virtual Student Summit
Fridays in March 2026: March 6, 13, 20, and 27
1–2:30 PM Eastern I 10–11:30 AM Pacific each day
Format:
Live Summit
Available On Demand (April 10, 2026–December 18, 2026)
Price:
Students: Free
Non-Student: $50
Certificates & Credits:
Continuing Education credits are not available for this summit. We will offer a Certificate of Attendance.
A yearly ASA membership is $275 for individuals and $100 for retired professionals & students. ASA also offers Organizational Membership. Learn more about membership here.
*This summit is non-refundable.
Description:
ASA is bringing students together from across the country for an exciting new virtual summit designed to spark careers in aging. Across 4 weeks, you will explore diverse career paths, build practical job search skills, and connect with peers and professionals who share your passion for making a difference.
Topics for each week:
Week 1: Exploring Careers in Aging—Hear from professionals across disciplines and learn about the wide range of opportunities in the field.
Week 2: Career Development and Job Search Skills—Gain practical tools for resumes, interviewing, LinkedIn, and understanding how AI shapes today’s job market.
Week 3: Networking and Mentorship—Learn how to build connections, find mentors, and use professional networks to advance your career.
Week 4: Student Showcase and Reflection—Share your work, reflect on what you’ve learned, and celebrate your next steps in the aging sector.
The Virtual Student Summit is free for students. All participants will also receive a certificate of completion to recognize their engagement and learning. This is your chance to discover opportunities you may not have considered, learn how to stand out in today’s job market, and start building the professional network that will support your journey.
Learning Objectives:
- Develop and apply career skills including advanced job search strategies, effective interviewing, and persuasive self-marketing.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of diverse and nontraditional careers in the aging field.
- Build a professional network by engaging with experts and peers beyond their own institution.
Who should attend this summit:
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
- Anyone desiring to learn more about careers in aging
Presenters:
Title: Alyssa Aguirre, LCSW-S, assistant director of Dementia Care Transformation, The University of Texas Dell Medical School
Alyssa Aguirre, LCSW-S, is a recognized leader in aging with more than 15 years of experience spanning dementia care research, private practice, and clinical social work. She serves as assistant director of Dementia Care Transformation at Dell Medical School, where she leads grant-funded research on technology, family caregiving, and interprofessional practice. She also provides counseling to individuals living with neurodegenerative conditions and their family caregivers, integrating clinical work with research, teaching, and systems-level leadership. (Week 1)
Title: Cassandra Cantave Burton, interim director of Thought Leadership and senior research advisor, AARP
Cassandra Cantave Burton is a dynamic advocate, dedicated researcher, and visionary leader in the nonprofit sector. As the Consumer Insights manager at AARP, she brings her expertise to the forefront of aging issues, providing strategic guidance and evidence-based insights on topics affecting older adults. She also serves as interim director of Thought Leadership, where she advances AARP’s wealth disparities strategy through rigorous research, strategic storytelling, and high-impact partnerships. Previously, Burton served as the interim senior manager for the people with disabilities audience, playing a pivotal role in drafting the National People with Disabilities strategic plan. (Week 3)
Title: Erin Cantrell, director of the DiNitto Career Center and Alumni Relations, University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work
Erin Cantrell, brings a holistic approach to career development, partnering with students and alumni to explore possibilities, discover strengths, and forge meaningful professional paths in social work. Before joining the DiNitto Career Center, she gained extensive experience in nonprofit administration, project management, and strategic planning through executive support roles at organizations such as the Mellon Foundation, Columbia University Medical Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (Week 2)
Title: Leanne Clark-Shirley, PhD, president & CEO, American Society on Aging
Leanne Clark-Shirley, PhD, is a social gerontologist with nearly 20 years of experience working in aging-related nonprofit, consulting and academic environments. Before joining ASA, she was AARP’s senior evaluation advisor, responsible for strategic planning, building internal evaluation research capacity, and applying impact measurement expertise at departmental and enterprise levels. Prior to that, she led the Aging and Disability research practice at IMPAQ International, a think tank and policy research firm. Clark-Shirley is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, teaches courses on policy and aging and regularly mentors students interested in non-academic careers in aging. She received her doctorate in Gerontology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. (Week 4)
Title: Chloe Elderkin, dual bachelor’s and master’s student, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology; graduate intern, Poppy Cares
Chloe Elderkin is a gerontology professional with experience in care coordination, dementia-focused programming, and student leadership, including serving as philanthropy chair for the USC Student Gerontology Association. She has a particular focus on LGBTQ+ aging and is involved in community engagement and advocacy volunteer work with the Los Angeles LGBT Center. (Week 3)
Title: Arielle Galinsky, CEO & co-founder of The Legacy Project, Inc. | JD/MPP student , Yale Law & Harvard Kennedy
Arielle Galinsky co-founded The Legacy Project, a national nonprofit that connects college students and older adults in their communities through mutual storytelling, uplifting and documenting life stories. Galinsky, an MPP/JD candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and Yale Law School, is committed to advancing aging policy reform at state and national levels. She also serves as a UN youth representative with Generations United, a CoGen Impact fellow with CoGenerate, and co-founder of Changemakers in Aging, which is dedicated to supporting young adults interested in pursuing a path in gerontology. (Week 1)
Title: Aaron Hagedorn, PhD, instructional associate professor of Gerontology, USC Leonard Davis
Aaron Hagedorn, PhD, teaches courses in policy, integrating sciences, technology and internship. He has published research on healthy life expectancy and health and well-being among older adults. (Week 3)
Title: Suzanne LaFollette-Black, retired associate state director, AARP
Suzanne LaFollette-Black has been a gerontologist for more than 40 years. She has worked in the aging network as a nonprofit nursing home administrator, Area Agency on Aging director, executive director of Moore County Department of Aging, AARP Georgia State director, AARP NC associate State director of Advocacy and Community Outreach and aging network volunteer. LaFollette-Black is originally from Window Rock, AZ (Navajo Indian reservation). (Week 2)
Title: Ricky Patterson, career development counselor, University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
Ricky Patterson combines his academic roots in public health and student development to specialize in bridging the gap between academic study and professional practice for students entering the health and human services sectors. Patterson’s work is driven by a steadfast commitment to seeing the next wave of healthcare and service professionals succeed and thrive in their communities. (Week 2)
Title: Karen A. Roberto, PhD, University distinguished professor, executive director, Institute for Society, Culture and Environment, and senior fellow, Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech
Karen Roberto, PhD, is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Gerontological Society of America, and the National Council on Family Relations. She has received several awards and honors including Visiting Scholar at Shu-Te University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the Gerontological Society of America Behavioral and Social Sciences Distinguished Mentorship Award and the Gary Andrews Visiting Fellow Award from the Australian Association for Gerontology. Her research focuses on health and social support in late life and includes studies of the health of rural older women, family relationships and dementia caregiving, and elder abuse. (Week 3)
Title: Jen Rivera, MS, vice president of Community Growth and Stewardship, American Society on Aging
Jen Rivera, MS, develops effective strategies to enhance member satisfaction, advance programmatic initiatives, and shape the intellectual direction of the organization, in collaboration with the education and membership team. With more than 10 years’ experience helping organizations rethink their membership models to deliver a consistent return on investment for their members, she has developed a deep understanding of building and sustaining relationships with stakeholders and implementing growth strategies for organizations. (Week 4)
Title: Graham D. Rowles, PhD, professor emeritus, University of Kentucky
Graham D. Rowles, PhD, researches environmental gerontology, focusing on the lived experience of place and its relationship to health and well-being, aging/environment theory, relocation and migration, housing options for older adults, and long-term care. His applied focus has included leading the Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative (KERI), editing the Journal of Applied Gerontology, and serving as president of the Southern Gerontological Society. (Week 1)
Title: April Young, MSW, senior managing director of Strategic Initiatives, ADvancing States
April Young, MSW, leads the Caregiving Team at ADvancing States, providing technical assistance to states on stakeholder engagement, the direct care workforce, and enabling technology. She oversees the Enabling Technology Engagement Network (ETEN), bringing together policymakers, vendors, and health plans to expand access to technology solutions for older adults and people with disabilities and support sustainable adoption. Previously, April served as a policy advisor on HCBS programs at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. (Week 1)
Thank you to the planning committee:
Anna Hardy Finger, LCSW-S, Clinical Assistant Professor, GRACE Program Co-Director, The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work
Chloe Elderkin, Undergraduate Student, The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Cynthia R. Hancock, Ph.D., FAGHE, FSGS, Director, Gerontology Program; Teaching Professor, Sociology, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Norman Jackson,Ph.D, MS, Undergraduate GERO Program Coordinator, San Diego State University School of Social Work
Sarah Swords, LCSW-S, former Clinical Associate Professor and GRACE Program Director, University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work
Tina M. K. Newsham, Ph.D., F-AGHE, Professor and Gerontology Program Coordinator, School of Health and Applied Human Sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington
Tracey Gendron, Ph.D., FGSA, Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, College of Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University
