A gold ribbon wraps around 50th beside the VCU gerontology and virginia center on aging logo
Save the Date

Saturday, Oct. 23, 2027
1:30 P.M. to 5 P.M.


The Department of Gerontology and the Virginia Center on Aging are celebrating 50 years of exceptional education, partnerships, advocacy and research. Please save the date of Saturday, October 23rd, 2027 and celebrate our 50th Anniversary with us on the VCU campus, at the College of Health Professions!

This celebration will offer the opportunity to reconnect with classmates and colleagues, explore what’s new at the department and VCoA and join our emerging elderhood movement.

A brunette woman wearing a black blazer smiles at the camera

Keynote Speaker
Leanne Clark-Shirley, Ph.D.

Leanne Clark-Shirley, Ph.D., is ASA’s President & CEO. Clark-Shirley 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 the 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.

Full agenda and details to come.

We would love to have VCU Gerontology alumni and friends of the VCoA get involved in our 50th Anniversary celebration. If you are interested, please email Tracey Gendron, Ph.D. at tlgendro@vcu.edu to get connected to the festivities.