UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing’s Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE) held its 11th annual CGNE Alumni and Friends Spring Brunch on April 7. 

The event — which is made possible in part through the support of CGNE partners and sponsors — recognizes Penn State students, community champions, and nurse leaders whose work advances gerontological nursing practice and improves the lives and care of older adults throughout the year.   

This year’s celebration focused on the past, present and future of person-centered care initiatives at CGNE and beyond. A highlight of the event was a special tribute to Donald H. Ford, dean emeritus of Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development, who passed away in 2023.  

Ford’s collaborative partnership with the Nese College of Nursing and CGNE was profound and personal. Among his distinguished academic career and lifelong pursuits, he was integral to the center’s Program for Person-Centered Living Systems of Care, which was founded in 2014. The program had its origins both in Ford’s ground-breaking multidisciplinary view of human development and his family’s journey after his wife, Carol, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Watch a tribute video to Ford’s life and legacy, shared during the brunch event. 

Attendees heard from keynote speaker, Susan Ryan, CEO with the Center for Innovation (CFI), who presented, “Person-Directed, Worker-Empowered Care: Creating Conditions and Communities to Support Living our Best Lives.” Ryan shared perspectives on long-term care reform, workforce issues and opportunities, along with CFI’s initiatives to establish small-home campuses that offer person-directed alternatives to traditional nursing homes. 

The event also featured recognition of CGNE’s education, research, translation, and service accomplishments during 2023 and offered attendees networking time with 14 sponsoring organizations. Additionally, the center honored five individuals for their commitment to gerontological research and practice with specific awards.  

This year’s honorees are: 

• 2024 CGNE Community Champion Award: Stephanie C. Cole, Regional Administrator with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living’s Center for Regional Operations 

• 2024 CGNE Ph.D. Student Champion Awards: Jenny Knecht-Fredo and Sherif Olanrewaju 

• 2024 CGNE D.N.P. Student Champion Award: Qianyu (Susy) Gong  

• 2024 Mark T. Kolanowski Award for Excellence in Ph.D. Nursing Research: Kaléi H. Kowalchik  

The CGNE Community Champion Award recognizes individuals and organizations who have contributed substantively to the advancement of the well-being of older adults and who are known for championing the cause of Penn State nursing excellence in the care of older adults.  

“Stephanie has been a tireless champion for the health and well-being of older adults in Pennsylvania and a true friend to the Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence,” said Marie Boltz, CGNE associate director and Elouise Ross Eberly and Robert Eberly Endowed Professor of Nursing, in presenting Cole with the 2024 award. “She has provided wise counsel, important connections, and thoughtful guidance that has enriched our education of students, our community outreach, our programs — including Age-Friendly Care, PA — and our research. We value Stephanie for all she has accomplished on behalf of older adults and also for her tremendous support of our mission and work at CGNE.”  

The CGNE Student Champion Awards recognize graduate students who are affiliated with the center, have an elevated level of participation throughout their educational program, focus on doctoral research (Ph.D.) or doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) projects that involves gerontology, demonstrate passion and commitment for working with older adults, present a dissertation or final project that aligns with the center’s vision, and seek to improve quality of care and lives of older adults in positive and person-centered ways.  

“Throughout my pretty untypical Ph.D. journey as a part-time student with multiple toddlers and pregnancy, CGNE has been a guiding light, shaping my education, pushing me on the right path and allowing for professional growth opportunities in profound ways,” Knecht-Fredo said. “I have been able to gain invaluable knowledge and skills that have empowered me to provide compassionate and comprehensive care for my older adult patients. CGNE's commitment to excellence has not only enriched my academic experience but has also instilled in me a profound sense of purpose to advocate for the well-being of our aging population.” 

In accepting his award, Olanrewaju shared, “CGNE has profoundly impacted my education by enriching my knowledge base, enhancing my research skills, and expanding my professional network in the field of aging … CGNE has generously offered numerous financial sponsorships, enabling my attendance at several national and international conferences. These experiences have sharpened my focus and dedication to improving geriatric care and have provided invaluable opportunities to contribute meaningfully to our shared mission.” 

And Gong noted that her experience working with CGNE also shaped her educational journey this way, “CGNE has offered me a tremendous amount of help on my DNP project — mental health wellness programs for older adults. The interdisciplinary approach and collaborative partnerships fostered by CGNE have empowered me to integrate evidence-based care into my professional practice.”    

In accepting the Mark T. Kolanowski Award, Kowalchik expressed her appreciation to the center as a place where she was able to expand her network and collaborate with other nurse scientists who became mentors. 

“CGNE has provided me with many opportunities to develop my personal and professional growth as an early career nurse scientist who is interested in improving palliative care and end-of-life care research,” she added.

About the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence 

Penn State’s CGNE was established in 2007 as one of nine legacy centers in the U.S. originally funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation and now supported by an endowment. As an interdisciplinary community of leaders and scholars with expertise in aging, geriatrics and gerontology, CGNE believes every older adult deserves the highest quality of evidenced-based care and well-being that respects their individual goals and preferences. Learn more about the center.