History of the Gerontology Program Skip to main content
College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Gerontology

History of the Gerontology Program

The Gerontology Program was initially created as the Resource Center on Adult Development and Aging in 1978 with the intentions to serve the older population of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the community. The center had four major goals which were teaching, scholarship, citizenship, and outreach. The University approved the Gerontology Minor and Certificate with an interdisciplinary relationship primarily involving Business, Family Science, Health Sciences, Recreation Management and Youth Leadership and Sociology. Drs. Phileon Robinson (Health Science, Chair), Evan Tye Peterson (Sociology), Gary Hansen (Family Life), and Steven Heiner (Health Science) made up the original BYU Gerontology Executive Committee.

Throughout the 1980’s the program continued to thrive as it sought to accomplish its goals. Initially, the program required 18 hours of coursework for the certificate or minor, but in the Fall of 1982, the required number of credits was reduced to 15 hours to standardize the program with those across campus. In 1980, Milton E. Smith (Business Management) and Howard R. Gray (Therapeutic Recreation) replaced Gary Hansen on the Gerontology Executive Committee and at some point in the late 1980’s Darlene Uzelac (Social Work) joined. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, the center split into two programs with Darlene Uzelac coordinating the social science initiative and Steven Heiner managing the health science program. In 1987, the Huntsman World Senior Games began an association with the BYU Gerontology Program, allowing students to provide hands-on health screenings and tests benefitting the students and the elderly that participated in the athletic events.

In the 1990’s, the social science program experienced an overall shift in Social Work away from gerontology resulting in a lack of funding. Likewise, the Annual Gerontology Conference first took place in the year 1990, giving students the opportunity to hear different perspectives on aging from recognized scholars and policy specialists. In 1997, Vaughn Call (Sociology) joined the committee and an effort was made to reconstitute the interdisciplinary program. Responsibility for the program was given to the dean of the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences in 1998 and in 1999, Howard Gray was appointed director of the program.

In 2002, program funding was increased by the University, enabling an increase in its research focus. In 2006, Richard Miller was named director of the program. During this time, importance was given to providing access to all students in all disciplines to receive a Gerontology Certificate or Minor, as well as offering research funding. Vaughn Call was appointed director of the program in 2007. Dr. Call met with Barbara Heise and Dean Beth Cole of the College of Nursing to integrate nursing into the program. Dr. Heise became a member of the committee in 2008 along with Jeremy Yorgason (Family Life), who replaced Dr. Miller on the committee. During this time, Dr. Russell B. Clark became the principal sponsor of the annual conference, and in recognition of this sponsorship, the conference was renamed the Annual Russell B. Clark Health Conference.

Dr. Yorgason replaced Dr. Call as director of the Gerontology Program in 2016. His committee consisted of Ron Hager (Exercise Sciences), Lance Erickson (Sociology), Blaine Winters (Nursing), Sterling Sudweeks (PDBio), Ray Merrill (Public Health), and Dawson Hedges (Psychology). Dr. Yorgason reached out to professors across campus to invite those doing gerontological research to become Faculty Affiliates of the Gerontology Program. As of June 2021, there are 70 Faculty Affiliates.

In 2018, the BYU Gerontology Club was created to provide a platform for students to serve the elderly and make connections with others of common interest. Evan Thacker (Public Health) accepted the invitation to be the first Gerontology Student Club Advisor, and became a member of the program’s Executive Committee.

In September 2019, Dr. Merrill, Dr. Erickson, and Dr. Hedges retired from the Committee and three new Committee Members took their places. These were Wendy Birmingham (Psychology), Samuel Tsugawa (Music Education), and Len Novilla (Public Health).

In 2021, the Gerontology Student Club was renamed the Gerontology Student Association, or GSA. Blaine Winters of Nursing retired from the committee and Corinna Tanner took his place. In July 2021, Ray Merrill was appointed to be the new Program Director in Dr. Yorgason’s place.

Today, consistent involvement in the Huntsman World Senior Games and the annual Russell B. Clark BYU Gerontology Conference continues to enrich and cultivate the Gerontology Program, which in turn continues to experience positive growth and change.