Master of Social Work

GA Job Description for Dr. Wan-Yi Chen and Dr. Kerrie Ocasio.

2 POSITIONS AVAILABLE - This will be a 3 credit hour tuition waiver per semester to work 5 hours per week PER GRADUATE ASSISTANT.

2025-2026 GA Responsibilities Description from Drs. Kerrie Ocasio and Wan-Yi Chen: 

The GA position will run concurrently to the practicum placement, such that the practicum hours and GA hours will be satisfied at the same time and will not result in any additional time. The GA funds provide an incentive for this special project and represent an opportunity to receive some funding during the practicum placement.

Possible activities for 24-25 may include assisting the practicum sites in need of program design and infrastructure support, as well as measurement and analysis development. These skills support the development of management and leadership skills for students interested in those opportunities in their careers.

A graduate assistant working with Dr Ocasio or Dr. Chen is expected to be interested in a career advancement in an organization; is able to think creatively and abstractly; has an interest in program design and evaluation; has the ability to work independently, has good communication skills, and can be on site one day a week, during regular business hours.

If you want to apply, please provide a cover letter and your resume. Please also reach out to the Practicum Office to arrange for logistics associated with this practicum arrangement.

Note: Applicants should exhibit a strong interest in program evaluation practice and must obtain approval from their practicum site to participate in the special project dedicated to evaluation capacity building as part of their practicum experience. 

GA Job Description for Dr. Angela Lavery

This position will be for a 3-credit hour tuition waiver per semester to work 5 hours per week.

Assist with the ongoing development and coordination of research activities for several research agenda items. The expected focus for 2025-2026 will be on ageism/paternalism/quality of life of older adults with equine interactions and digital storytelling. In addition, work will begin on a Life Story Creations Digital Storytelling Project. Additional areas of study could include volunteerism/civic engagement and an intergenerational community engagement project.

GA will assist in a variety of research duties. Examples of duties include assisting with digital story telling videos (creation; editing and copying); recruitment of participants; searches for research literature; evaluation and measurement tools; copyright permissions of research tools, etc. GA may also need to assist with coordination of interviews, provide transcription of completed interviews and manuscript editing and development. GA might also assist in coordination with other interdisciplinary department contacts and community agencies involved with these projects and if applicable. GA will assist faculty with ongoing development of research procedures and protocol and data analysis, depending on stage of project. This position requires the GA to have some availability during normal weekday university business hours. 

 GA Description for Graduate Certificate in Gerontology – 2025-2026

Dr. Angela Lavery

This position will require *some* weekly availability for meetings and work during weekday *normal university business hours*.

GA will be responsible for a variety of tasks associated with the administration and support of the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology program. The GA will assist with the organization, development, and design of the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Newsletter for both Fall and Spring semesters.

GA will assist with any applicable social media outlets.

GA will assist with any applicable service-learning project for core Gero Cert courses and with any research related to those service learning projects (permissions to use measurement tools, data collection and analysis if applicable). This may also include communicating with service-learning sites and/or key contacts.

Additional duties *may* include:

·       assistance with manuscript development regarding Gerontological Higher Education (literature searches, writing literature review, etc.)

·       development of marketing materials for the Gerontology Certificate program.

·       review of Certificate website and make suggestions for updates/editing.

·       assistance with continuing education and awareness events such as Careers in Aging Month in March 2026.

·       assist with search of funding opportunities.

·       assist with supporting the Gerontology Student Interest Group as needed.

 

 

GA Job Description for Dr. Susan Wysor-Nguema

This is a research position for a 5hr/week graduate assistantship in exchange for 3 credits of tuition waiver. More details on this position are forthcoming.