Faculty Archive - USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
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Comprised of some of the world’s most talented minds in gerontology, the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology faculty is a group of intensely talented and passionate researchers and educators. Our faculty members include both the visionaries who pioneered modern aging study and the up-and-coming investigators who take gerontology research and service in exciting new directions.
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Adjunct Faculty
Dean
Emeritus
Instructional Faculty
Joint Appointees
Lecturers
Research Faculty
Tenured/Tenure Track Faculty
Visiting Scholars
Dean
Pinchas Cohen, MD
Distinguished Professor of Gerontology, Medicine and Biological Sciences
Dean, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
William and Sylvia Kugel Dean’s Chair in Gerontology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Mitochondria, Technology, Personalized aging
Tenured/Tenure Track Faculty
Jennifer Ailshire, PhD
Professor of Gerontology and Spatial Sciences
Associate Dean of Research
Associate Dean of International Programs and Global Initiatives
UPS Foundation Chair in Aging and Justice
Expertise: Environment, Social-determinants and disparities, Global aging
Bérénice Benayoun, PhD
Associate Professor of Gerontology, Biological Sciences and Cancer Biology and Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Expertise: Big data, Sex differences, Immune function
Lauren Brown, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Stress, Social-determinants and disparities, Age-related diseases
Pinchas Cohen, MD
Distinguished Professor of Gerontology, Medicine and Biological Sciences
Dean, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
William and Sylvia Kugel Dean’s Chair in Gerontology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Mitochondria, Technology, Personalized aging
Constanza Cortes, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Mechanisms of aging, Sex differences
Eileen Crimmins, PhD
University Professor
AARP Chair in Gerontology
Expertise: Mortality and life expectancy, Demography, Cognition
Sean Curran, PhD
Professor of Gerontology
Vice Dean
Dean of Faculty and Research
James E. Birren Chair in Gerontology
Expertise: Biology, Genetics, Nutrition and diets
Teal S. Eich, PhD
Associate Professor of Gerontology and Psychology
Associate Dean for Arts and Healthy Aging
Expertise: Cognition, Memory, Neuroscience
Susan Enguídanos, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Palliative care, End-of-life, Ethnic disparities
Francesca Falzarano, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Caregiving, Alzheimer's and dementia, Technology
Eleanor Hayes-Larson, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Stress, Social-determinants and disparities
Cristal M. Hill, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Nutrition/Metabolism, Mechanisms of aging, Nutrigenomics
Andrei Irimia, PhD
Associate Professor of Gerontology, Quantitative & Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Brain injury, Brain aging, Deep learning
Mireille Jacobson, PhD
Professor of Gerontology and Public Policy
Expertise: Health economics, Policy
Michelle Keller, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Leonard and Sophie Davis Early Career Endowed Chair in Minority Aging
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Social-determinants and disparities, Translational research
Changhan David Lee, PhD
Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Mitochondria, Mechanisms of aging, Stress response
Valter Longo, PhD
Professor of Gerontology
Edna M. Jones Chair in Gerontology
Expertise: Fasting, Nutrition and diets, Chronic diseases
Mara Mather, PhD
Professor of Gerontology, Psychology, and Biomedical Engineering
Expertise: Neuroscience, Emotion, Cognition
Daniel Nation, PhD
Professor of Gerontology and Medicine
Merle H. Bensinger Professorship in Gerontology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Neuroscience, Brain aging
Christian Pike, PhD
Professor of Gerontology
Kevin Xu Chair in Gerontology
Assistant Dean of Research
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Neuroscience, Sex differences
Ryo Sanabria, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Stress response, Mechanisms of aging, Genetics
Marc Vermulst, PhD
Associate Professor of Gerontology and Cancer Biology
Expertise: Mitochondria, Mutagenesis, Transcriptomics
John Walsh, PhD
Associate Professor of Gerontology
Associate Dean of Education
Expertise: Chronic diseases, Neuroscience, Biology
Kathleen Wilber, PhD
Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Caregiving, Elder abuse, Long-term care
Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD
Professor of Gerontology and Psychology
Expertise: Cognition, Memory, Technology
Research Faculty
T. Em Arpawong, PhD, MPH
Research Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Big data, Genetics, Social-determinants and disparities
Donna Benton, PhD
Research Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Caregiving, Long-term care
Sebastian Brandhorst, PhD
Research Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Nutrition and diets, Translational research, Longevity
Amy Christensen-Pacheco, PhD
Research Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Sex differences, Nutrition and diets
Jung Ki Kim, PhD
Research Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Big data, Global aging, Social-determinants and disparities
Kaoru Nashiro, PhD
Research Associate Professor and Clinical Research Director
Expertise: Cognition, Neuroimaging, Emotional well-being
Junxiang Wan, MD, PhD
Research Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Age-related diseases, Mitochondria, Longevity
Kelvin Yen, PhD
Research Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Mitochondria, Mechanisms of aging, Biology
Instructional Faculty
Caroline Cicero, PhD, MSW, MPL
Instructional Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Policy, Housing, Sociology
Deborah Fui-Yuen Hoe, PhD
Instructional Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: End-of-life, Palliative care
Bong-Keun “Andrew” Jung, OTD
Instructional Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: AgeTech, Rehabilitation Science, AI and Robotics for Aging
Aaron Hagedorn, PhD
Instructional Associate Professor of Gerontology
Cary Kreutzer, EdD, MPH, RD, FAND
Instructional Professor of Clinical Gerontology and Pediatrics
Expertise: Nutrition and diets, Nutrigenomics, Wellness
Tara Mastro, PhD
Instructional Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Memory, Neuroscience, Biology
Paul Nash, PhD
Instructional Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Ageism and intersectionality, HIV and aging, Stigma and discrimination
Roberto Vicinanza, MD, PhD
Instructional Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Age-related diseases, Nutrition and metabolism, Mental health
Lecturers
Manuel Acevedo
Founder and CEO, Helpful Village
Adjunct Lecturer
Expertise: Technology, Big data, Caregiving
Julie Bates, PhD
Associate State Director for AARP
Adjunct Lecturer
Expertise: LGBTQ older adults, Resilience, Optimal aging
Jim Biggs, MPA
Part-Time Lecturer
Tameka Brown, MBA, MAG
Adjunct Lecturer
Socorro Carranza, MPH, RDN, CDCES
Part-Time Lecturer
Expertise: Nutrition and diets, Nutrition and metabolism, Chronic diseases
Joshua Johnson, MAG
Part-Time Lecturer
DeWayne McMullin, CPA, MBA, MAG
President of New Life Development
Adjunct Lecturer
Nicholas Padula, RD
Director of Dining Services, Front Porch
Adjunct Lecturer
Julia R. Walsh, JD
Part-Time Lecturer
Joint Appointees
Hussein Yassine, MD
Professor of Medicine and Gerontology
Emma Aguila, PhD
Associate Professor of Economics and Gerontology
Albert Almada, PhD
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine
María P. Aranda, PhD
Professor of Social Work and Gerontology
Raquel D. Arias, MD
Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Gerontology
Christopher R. Beam, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology and Gerontology
Michael A. Bonaguidi, PhD
Assistant Professor of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine and Gerontology
Janette C. Brown, EdD
Assistant Vice Provost, Emeriti Center
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Enrique Cadenas, MD, PhD
Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Gerontology
Irene Chiolo, PhD
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Gerontology
Lucio Comai, PhD
Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and Gerontology
Alexis Coulourides Kogan, PhD
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Gerontology
Gerald C. Davison, PhD
Professor of Psychology and Gerontology
Steven Finkel, PhD
Professor of Biological Sciences and Gerontology
Margaret Gatz, PhD
Professor of Psychology and Gerontology
Dana Goldman, PhD
University Professor of Public Policy, Pharmacy, Economics and Gerontology
Myron F. Goodman, PhD
Professor of Molecular Biology and Chemistry and Gerontology
Nicholas Graham, PhD
Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Gerontology
Duke Han, PhD
Professor of Psychology, Family Medicine, Gerontology, and Neurology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Cognition, Financial well-being
Kurt Hong MD, PhD
Clinical Professor of Medicine and Gerontology
Yuri Jang, PhD
Professor of Social Work and Gerontology
Doerte Junghaenel, PhD
Associate Professor (Research) of Psychology and Gerontology
Ralf Langen, PhD
Professor of Physiology & Neuroscience and Gerontology
Martin Levine, PhD
UPS Foundation Chair in Law, Gerontology, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Michael R. Lieber, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology and Gerontology
Rong Lu, PhD
Associate Professor of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine and Gerontology
Derrick Morton, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences and Gerontology
Laura A. Mosqueda, MD, FAAFP, AGSF
Professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics and Gerontology
Peter J. Mullen, PhD
Assistant Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Gerontology
Lon Schneider, MD
Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and Gerontology
Stefan Schneider, PhD
Professor (Research) of Psychology and Gerontology
Freddi Segal-Gidan, PhD
Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology and Family Medicine and Gerontology
Renee Smith Maddox, PhD
Teaching Professor of Social Work and Gerontology
Piedad Suarez, DDS
Professor of Clinical Dentistry and Gerontology
John Tower, PhD
Professor of Biological Sciences and Gerontology
Julie M. Zissimopoulos, PhD
Professor of Economics and Gerontology
Adjunct Faculty
Julie K. Andersen, PhD
Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Marie-Therese Connolly, JD
Former Senior Scholar of United States Studies
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Lisa Ellerby, PhD
Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Sara E. Espinoza, MD, MSc
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Gerontology
Pejmun Haghighi, PhD
Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Malene Hansen, PhD
Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Scott Kaiser, MD
Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health, Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Su-Jeong Kim, PhD
Senior Scientist II
Adjunct Research Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Mitochondria, Neuroscience
Eric Klopack, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Hiroshi Kumagai, PhD
Adjunct Research Associate Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Genetics, Mitochondria, Biology
Simon Melov, PhD
Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Nicolas Musi, MD
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Gerontology
Emma Nichols, PhD
Adjunct Research Scientist of Gerontology
Yasuhiko Saito, PhD
Professor of Economics and Gerontology
Joseph Saenz, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Expertise: Social-determinants and disparities, Global aging, Alzheimer's and dementia
Fernando Torres-Gil, PhD
Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy, UCLA
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Jonathan Matthew Wanagat, MD, PhD
Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor of Gerontology
Eric Verdin, MD
Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Ashley Webb, PhD
Associate Professor, Buck Institute
Adjunct Associate Professor of Gerontology
Visiting Scholars
Paul Irving
Senior Fellow, Milken Institute
Emeritus
Kelvin J. A. Davies, PhD, DSc, FRSC, FRCP
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Gerontology, Molecular & Computational Biology, and Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine
Expertise: Mechanisms of aging, Mitochondria, Stress
Caleb Finch, PhD
University Professor Emeritus of Gerontology, Molecular and Computational Biology, and Anthropology
Expertise: Alzheimer's and dementia, Environment, Biology
Henry Jay Forman, PhD
Research Professor Emeritus of Gerontology
Todd Morgan, PhD
Research Professor Emeritus of Gerontology
Expertise: Environment, Alzheimer's and dementia, Neuroscience
Jon Pynoos, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Gerontology
Expertise: Housing, Fall prevention, Home modifications
Edward Schneider, MD
Dean Emeritus, Professor of Gerontology, Medicine and Biology
Expertise: Elder abuse, Mortality and life expectancy, Long-term care
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At the USC Leonard Davis School, you can earn an undergraduate gerontology degree, an accelerated five-year undergraduate or graduate degree program, a doctoral degree, or a minor in aging.
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