University of New England

UNE geriatrics scholar
Marilyn Gugliucci
elected president
of national association

BIDDEFORD - Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D., director of geriatric education and research within the University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine, was recently elected as president of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE).

Gugliucci will serve as the Association's president-elect from 2007-2008, as AGHE president from 2008-2010, and will complete the four-year commitment as past-president from 2010-2011.

Marilyn R.Gugliucci
Gugliucci came to UNE in 1989 and was the founding director for the BodyWISE Center for Health and Fitness for 18 years. BodyWISE was a community service extension of UNE's University Health Care system that specialized in older adult health and physical function. A new program, U-ExCEL (Exercise and Conditioning for Easier Living) is a community-based program at older adult housing facilities, which Gugliucci recently established and directs. Gugliucci also teaches within the College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) and has implemented a UNECOM signature research project where medical students are admitted to nursing homes to live the life of an elder resident for at least two weeks. UNECOM is the first medical school in the country to have such a program.

In addition, Gugliucci mentors medical students to attain prestigious geriatric research fellowships. In the past four years under her mentorship, 22 UNECOM students have achieved various national awards and fellowships from the American Federation for Aging Research, American Geriatric Society, the Gerontological Society of America and American Medical Student Association. She is also secretary for the UNE Faculty Assembly and serves on many committees including the University Research Committee, the College of Health Professions (CHP) Research Committee and the CHP Gerontological Advisory Committee.

Gugliucci has been an active member of the AGHE as UNE's institutional representative since 1995. She has also provided leadership within the organization as AGHE Treasurer (2005-2007); chair of the Fellows Selection Committee (2005-2007); chair of the Finance Committee (2005-present); co-chair of the Program of Merit Review Board (2004-present); Executive Board, member-at-large (2003-2005);  and chair of Academic Program Development (2003-2005). 
 
Nationally, in addition to her work with the AGHE, Gugliucci serves on the executive board of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA); the GSA Research, Education and Practice (REP) Committee; and the GSA Clinical Medicine (Health Sciences) Section executive board. Within Maine, she serves on the Maine Legal Services for the Elderly board, the Maine Council of Elder Affairs, the Rural Geriatric Conference Planning Committee, the Office of Elder Services Advisory Board and is vice president of the Maine Gerontological Society.

AGHE
AGHE, the educational branch of the parent scientific organization, the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), is the only national membership organization devoted primarily to gerontological and geriatric education. AGHE is in a unique position to develop and sponsor education and training initiatives that involve students, educators, researchers and officials from across the country and internationally to provide resources for older adults and those who serve them. 

AGHE and its 300 member institutions are strongly committed to the well-being of older adults. AGHE's mission supports institutions of higher education to strive to prepare service delivery personnel who will work directly with elderly adults; train educators who specialize in the physical and social attributes of aging; educate society at large about the processes of aging and the implications of an aging society; and instruct older adults seeking to maximize their options in a complex and challenging age. 

(Press release posted March 19, 2007)