Student News

Elizabeth Handing

My name is Elizabeth Handing, and I will be serving as one of the Graduate Student Representatives to the Division 20 Executive Committee along with along with Kristen Condeelis and Postdoctoral Representative Elizabeth Hahn. I had the pleasure of meeting many Division 20 members at the APA conference in Honolulu, and I am honored to represent the voice of graduate students in this division. Currently, I am a third year doctoral student in the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida where I work closely with Brent Small. My research interests include longitudinal lifestyle factors as they relate to healthy aging, specifically the influence of nutrition on cognitive functioning. Primarily, I am interested in the role of dietary nutrients and their impact on various cognitive domains as well as developing interventions to promote and maintain cognitive functioning. As a Graduate Student Representative, I hope to encourage more student involvement and look forward to an exciting year working with Kristen Condeelis, Elizabeth Hahn and the new Division 20 President William Haley!

Kristen Condeelis

My name is Kristen Condeelis, and as one of the Graduate Student Representatives to Division 20 this year, I hope to provide a unique perspective on issues related to Adult Development and Aging and serve as a liaison between my fellow graduate students and members of the executive committee. I am honored to have the opportunity to work with William Haley, the new Division 20 president, and Elizabeth Hahn and Elizabeth Handing — it should be a fantastic year!

I discovered my passion for studying Adult Development and Aging as an undergraduate student at the University of South Florida (USF), earning a BA from USF in psychology and gerontology. Currently, I am a PhD student at the University of Alabama (UA) studying clinical psychology, with a specialization in geropsychology, under the direction of the exceptional UA faculty. My primary research interests include topics related to dementia and cognitive impairment, specifically relationships between Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and psychological distress, MCI to Alzheimer's disease conversion rates and conversion factors, and early detection and intervention strategies for persons with dementia. Furthermore, I am excited to work at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center as a graduate research assistant to A. Lynn Snow. Once again, I look forward to working with William Haley, Elizabeth Hahn and Elizabeth Handing this year, in addition to the UA faculty members who are affiliated with Division 20. Please don't hesitate to contact me! Roll Tide!

Elizabeth A. Hahn, PhD

My name is Elizabeth Hahn, and I am looking forward to serving as Division 20 Postdoctoral Representative to the executive committee this year. In 2012, I received a doctoral degree in Aging Studies from the University of South Florida, and I am currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychology at Brandeis University. My interests include examining psychosocial and cognitive factors influencing healthy aging. My specific area of research is in daily experiences, including daily stressors and daily memory complaints, and their association with psychological wellbeing during adult development and aging. As an undergraduate at Pennsylvania State University, I developed an interest for research by volunteering as an undergraduate research assistant with the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study and a passion for older adults by volunteering at a continuing care retirement community. As a postdoctoral representative, my goals are to help meet the needs and increase opportunities for the students and postdoctoral members of Division 20. I look forward to a great year working with Kristen and Elizabeth, as well as Division 20 President, William E. Haley!