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David Burdick is professor emeritus of psychology, gerontology, and sustainability studies. He joined the ��˾�������� faculty in 1984 after receiving his BA in psychology and environmental studies from Alfred University (1977), and his PhD (1983) in Gero psychology from the University of Notre Dame. His community-focused career was cultivated as a staff member of Notre Dame’s Center for Gerontological Education, Research, and Services and strengthened by a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Applied Gerontology with the Gerontological Society of America in 1984. In 2005 he and Professor Emerita Linda Wharton led ��˾�������� and community partners through a year-long “Journey Towards Democracy” project funded by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, designed to increase ��˾��������’s intentionality and focus upon civic engagement and community partnerships. He served on the advisory committee of the ��˾�������� Center for Community Engagement and on the ��˾�������� Foundation's Scholarship Selection Committee.

A regular contributor to several community efforts as a board member, trustee, or consultant, he held leadership positions for various state and national organizations. He was selected by Governor Christine Todd Whitman in 1995 as a Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging and facilitated a day-long session on “Quality of Life” for the NJ Delegation. A former president of the Society on Aging of New Jersey, he received the Society's Gerontologist of the Year Award in 1997. His scholarly interests centered on intergenerational relationships and technology and aging. His scholarly work/publications include a co-edited book entitled Gerotechnology: Research and practice in technology and aging (Springer, 2005), Guest Editor of a Special Issue on Accreditation in Gerontology for the Journal of Gerontology & GeriatricsEducation (2012), and co-authored chapters on technology and long-term care in two recent books: (Furphy, K., Lindstrom-Hazel, D., & Burdick, D. (2013). Assistive technology and older adults. In Barney, K. F. & Perkinson, M. A. (Eds.). Occupational Therapy with Aging Adults: Enhancing Quality of Life through Collaborative Practice. London, San Diego: Elsevier, Inc.; Kutzik, D. & Burdick, D. C. (2015). Use of technology in long-term care. In Yee-Melichar, D, Cabigao, E. P. & Flores, C. M. (Ed.s). Long-Term Care Administration & Management: Options, Issues and Trends in Eldercare. NY: Springer.

Dr. Burdick served two terms on the Executive Committee of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education where he became co-chair of the Advancement Committee. He is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics Education and the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships.

Dr. Burdick retired in June 2024.

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Dr. Ferri, is the Director, and an Associate Professor of Psychology at ��˾��������. She joined the ��˾�������� faculty in 2005 after earning a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Duke University and completing a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Geropsychology at the UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine. She served as Co-Vice President for Education of the Society on Aging of New Jersey from 2008-08, and has been faculty advisor to ��˾��������’s Chapter of the Psi Chi Honor Society in Psychology.

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Dr. Jessica Fleck is the Assistant Director and Professor of Psychology. She joined the faculty after earning a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Temple University and completing a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in electrophysiology at Drexel University. She has been the recipient of several SCOSA Faculty Research Fellow Awards and is a former member of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education’s Academic Program Development Committee. Dr. Fleck is the Director of the Healthy Brain Healthy Mind Lab, which conducts research on the effects of lifestyle on brain health and cognition. Her research has explored a range of brain-related topics including the neural underpinnings of creativity, the sequence of neural events that lead to sudden insights, and the changes in brain networks during healthy aging and clinical disease. She has authored numerous manuscripts and book chapters on creativity, as well as the role of lifestyle in brain health and successful aging.  Currently, Dr. Fleck is examining the contributions of grit and growth mindsets to successful aging.

Gina earned her Masters in Social Work from Monmouth University (2012)and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Anthropology from ��˾�������� (2008). Gina is a ��˾�������� Gerontology Adjunct Instructor. Her areas of expertise include: Reminiscence, Therapeutic Arts, Program Planning, Community Outreach, Biopsychosocial Assessments, Grant Writing, Counseling, Research, and HIPAA Compliance. 

Patricia W. Collins (Trish) is currently the Community Engagement Liaison for ��˾�������� University Center for Community Engagement (SCCE) and Adjunct Instructor at ��˾�������� University and has worked at the institution since 1999. In her role as Community Engagement Liaison, she assists in the coordination between ��˾�������� (SCCE) and other community engagement initiatives on campus (i.e. ��˾�������� Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA) to ensure effective communication and resource sharing, and special projects that align with ��˾�������� priorities. Prior to this appointment, she was the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Board Liaison, Office of the President. In addition, she is serving in her fourth term as the President of ��˾��������’s Council of Black Faculty and Staff (CBFS), and serves on numerous on-campus ad-hoc committees.

Trish is the recipient of multiple awards including the 2017 Community Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Atlantic City Chapter, Burlington-Camden Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi’s African-American Woman Achiever’s Award in Higher Education, and The Council of Black Faculty and Staff’s Merit Recipient Award.

Trish graduated with honors from Ashford University with a Master of Arts in Organizational Management (concentration in Human Resources); and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Forbes School of Business. She is also working on her Doctoral Degree in Public Administration and is expected to graduate by December of 2026.

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Duo (Helen) Wei is an associate professor of Computer Science in the School of Business and affiliated faculty for Master of Science in Data Science & Strategic Analytics at ��˾��������. She has been a visiting professor at Columbia University and visiting research fellow at the National Library of Medicine. Her research focuses on knowledge discovery & representation, medical terminologies, and ontology-based data analytics.

Dr. Wei has been a member of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) for 14 years and currently serves as co-chair of the Women in AMIA (WIA) Mentoring, Networking, and LifeCycle Committee and a member of WIA Steering Committee. Dr. Wei recently published, ” Assessing perceived effectiveness of career development efforts led by the women in American Medical Informatics Association Initiative" in the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association (Impact factor: 7.942).  This publication was the collaborative work of faculty from Washington University, the University of Utah, Harvard Medical School, Saint Louis University, Arizona State University, Mayo Clinic, and industry members. The publication can be accessed via PubMed .

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Dr. Rose is Professor Emerita at Widener University and is currently an adjunct professor of psychology and health science at ��˾��������. She has taught a variety of classes in the field of psychology with primary interests in developmental psychology. Dr. Rose’s research focus has been on understanding the development of memory, studying individuals from infancy to older adulthood. She currently works in the ��˾�������� Center on Successful Aging championing the age-friendly university initiative as a Temporary Employment Specialist (TES).

Pearl (Peppy) Margolis received her Master's of Arts from the Department of Social Sciences with a specialized degree in Jewish/Christian Studies and Holocaust History at Seton Hall University. She also earned a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Education from The College of New Jersey. Peppy also has a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language and taught English as a Second Language in at an International School in Germany and to Adult Students earning their High School Diplomas in New Jersey.

As Director of Community Programs at Raritan Valley Community College, Peppy led three Institutes: The Life Long Learning Institute. The Paul Robeson Institute of Black Studies, and The Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Peppy wrote NJ’s First Elementary K-8 Holocaust and Genocides Curriculum: Caring Makes A Difference and produced three films about the impact of The Holocaust and Genocides on families of Survivors. As a member of the New Jersey State Holocaust Commission, Peppy was a Teacher Trainer of the New Jersey Curriculum on Holocaust Education. As A Temporary Employment Specialist (TES) with SCOSA, she will plan and/or present a variety of SCOSA programs.

Fionna is a 2022 graduate of ��˾��������’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program.  A resident of Somers Point, Fionna’s experience in the retail and health care sectors coupled with her experience as a ��˾�������� student will be beneficial in her work for SCOSA. Fionna will continue engaging with older adults through recreation and socialization programming in Cape May County’s three senior centers and assist with the coordination office projects.

Kerstin earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree from ��˾�������� in 2022. As an alumni of ��˾��������, her experience working in higher education as a Service-Learning Support staff member at the Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning (SCCESL) office, as well as working in the healthcare field, prepared Kerstin for engaging with older adults through the ��˾�������� Institute for Lifelong Learning (SILL), and assisting with office projects. Kerstin will focus on asist SCOSA an a TES and Program Assistant for SILL and NJGWEP.

Kerstin was also a listed author in published article As we age: listening to the voice of LGBTQ older adults in Social Work Public Health journal, assisted completing an extensive book chapter on technological interventions in community-based occupational therapy practice with older adults published by Elsevier, and participated in a gerontology program research tutorial and carried out a comprehensive review of the scholarly literature on the issue of falling among older adults, and various interventions that could help reduce and prevent falls. She is currently researching "The Effect of Visual Manipulation on Postural Responses of Young and Older Adults," and presented findings at ��˾�������� University's Fall Day of Scholarship in 2022, and the 2024 Scholarship, Teaching, & Research Symposium.