Advocacy

Leading the charge: George Mason researchers advocate for older adults in Capitol Hill campaign

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 16 May 2025 19:03:22 +0000

Leading the charge: George Mason researchers advocate for older adults in Capitol Hill campaign Mary Cunningham Fri, 05/16/2025 - 15:03

In This Story

Li-Mei Chen, PhD

Li-Mei Chen, an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work, and Health Services Research PhD student Linda Hayes Bennett participated in the annual Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) Capitol Hill Advocacy Day on April 29–30, 2025. The advocacy campaign brought together researchers and professionals from across the country to promote aging-related policy priorities and champion additional funding.

Li-Mei Chen (second from the left) and Linda Hayes Bennett (second from the right) with colleagues at the annual Gerontological Society of America's Capitol Hill Advocacy Day. Photo provided.

“As scientists, we adapt to new ways of thinking about health and aging when funding and priorities change. I think the touching stories of how our current work serves and helps older adults in our community and state moved the legislative staff and Congress people we met with,” said Hayes Bennett.

As part of the Virginia delegation, Chen and Bennett met with legislative staff from the offices of Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Congressmen H. Warner Griffith and Don Beyer, and Congresswoman Erica Eisenman. They advocated for sustained investment in programs that support older adults, including Medicaid, the Administration for Community Living programs such as Meals on Wheels, and funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They emphasized the economic and scientific value of NIH support—highlighting that in fiscal year 2023, NIH funding generated an estimated $92.9 billion in economic activity, with every $1 of investment returning $2.50 in economic benefits. Using data from Science Impacts, Chen and Bennett illustrated the potential impact of proposed budget cuts on research progress and job losses.

Chen shared insights from her research, which uses virtual reality to train nursing home direct care staff in relationship-centered dementia care. She noted that many direct care workers receive no formal training in dementia care, and among those who do, 54% struggle with training delivered exclusively in English. Her colleague explained the prevalence rates of dementia by constituency area, and they advocated for the need of dementia care workforce training and research in Virginia.

“It was an honor to stand alongside distinguished colleagues representing the next generation of researchers advocating for this important work,” said Hayes Bennett. “I am grateful to my mentor/advisor Gilbert Gimm for encouraging me to rejoin GSA.”

Fellow gerontology scholars from Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Georgetown University also participated in the event. GSA is the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging, with more than 6,000 members—80% of whom receive federal funding, primarily through the NIH and National Institute on Aging (NIA). Chen is a Fellow and long-standing member of GSA, and Bennett is an active member.

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Students

This Mason public health student wants you to know about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Shayla Brown — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:30:41 +0000

This Mason public health student wants you to know about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Shayla Brown Mon, 02/05/2024 - 12:30

Kayla Moore sees testing for sexually transmitted diseases as a key part of public health, and the doorway to a healthy community.

Moore is currently getting her master of social work at ��’s College of Public Health, and in recognition of the 25th anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, has organized a two-part event at Mason’s Fairfax �� that speaks to public health.

“A lot of people don't realize that HIV and AIDS is still prevalent, or that you can live a fulfilled life even with a positive status,” said Moore, an ARIE graduate assistant at Student Health Services, which provides free STD and STI testing.

Kayla Moore. Photo provided.

Moore reached out to her ARIE Supervisor Megan Symanowitz and internship advisor Juton Myers about hosting an event. Moore, along with Myers, plans and participates in events that represent the QTBIPOC branch of the LBGTQ+ community.

“My background is in advocacy and advocating for marginalized communities,” said Moore, who previously worked in criminal justice. “That's my bread and butter, and where my appreciation of clinical social work comes from. The DMV has very high transmissions of HIV, and Black women are affected by it the most.”

Moore’s experience in criminal justice taught her that she really cared about the clients, but wanted to focus more on trying to get them services that they need, she said.

“It's challenging being a Black woman in public health or clinical social work because there's not a lot of us, but the ones that are here are doing some big things,” she said.

Moore worked with campus partners including the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, as well as with the community health organization NovaSalud, to create the two-part event. On Wednesday, February 7, a discussion and exchange of information will take place in the Paul Robeson Room in the Johnson Center to go along with this year’s theme, "Engage, Educate, Empower: Uniting to End HIV/AIDS in Black Community,” as well as STI/HIV testing in Student Health Services.

The discussion will be led by Stephanie Funkhouser, a health and well-being promotion coordinator from Student Health Services, and Global and Community Health (GCH) and School of Integrative Studies professor Garey Davis.

“Students often don't have a lot of money, or they don’t want their tests to show up on their parents’ insurance,” Moore said. “There is also this stigma attached to getting tested, so offering free testing to college students makes it easier for them to be informed and have peace of mind. People knowing their status is doing a service for the whole community.”

Moore is also working with the LGBTQ+ Resource Center on a community block party that will encompass a large clothing swap, food, music, and health workshops.

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Mason Trailblazer: Charlotte Woodward

Colleen Rich — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:27:50 +0000

Mason Trailblazer: Charlotte Woodward Colleen Rich Mon, 03/14/2022 - 12:27

Charlotte Woodward. Photo provided

�� sociology major Charlotte Woodward has tirelessly advocated for the rights of people with disabilities—and she is being recognized for her efforts.

In December 2021, U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a federal legislation named for her: the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (S.3301), designed to prevent discrimination by health care providers against people with disabilities who need organ transplants.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: In their statement, the senators noted, “The bill is named after Charlotte Woodward, an advocate with Down syndrome who received a heart transplant nine years ago and has fought to raise the issue of organ transplant discrimination in various states, including her home state of Virginia.”

FACING THE CHALLENGE: More than 25 states currently prohibit organ transplantation discrimination, but discrepancies exist across state laws, and delays in delivering relief to patients has made enforcement difficult. Woodward's February 2020 testimony before the Virginia General Assembly was an important step in seeing state legislation passed—unanimously—that prevents disability-based discrimination against people who need life-saving organ transplants.

Charlotte Woodward after appearing before with General Assembly with Virginia Senator Todd Pillion and NDSS colleagues Matteo Lieb and Ashley Helsing. Photo provided

QUEEN OF HEARTS: Born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, Woodward underwent four surgeries as a child and received a heart transplant in 2012. She celebrated her 10-year “Heartiversy” in January of this year. Since her lifesaving heart transplant, she has advocated for persons with disabilities to receive equal access to similar opportunities. “I’ve been an advocate my entire life, and I’m always looking for the opportunity to help other people.”

NOW IT'S HER JOB: The Fairfax, Virginia, native works for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), a human rights organization that supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community. As the community outreach associate, Woodward has met with legislators, taken part in numerous advocacy events, served as editor in chief for an upcoming NDSS magazine, and has starred in several TikTok videos, one of which has had 4.4 million views.

ON A MISSION: In her advocacy for equal rights for the disabled community, Woodward is working on issues ranging from helping people with disabilities move into community employment settings to protection of federal benefits for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who wish to marry. “I want society to be aware of the lived experiences of people with disabilities, as well as the abilities that they bring to the world, even though they were born into a world that wasn't made for them.”

WHAT SHE DOES FOR FUN: An enthusiastic baseball fan, Woodward enjoys following the Washington Nationals. She is learning how to play electric guitar and has participated in the Global Down Syndrome Foundation fashion show, Be Beautiful Be Yourself.

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Student's Mission to Enhance Public Health Awareness

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 18:16:26 +0000

Student's Mission to Enhance Public Health Awareness John Brandon C… Mon, 04/19/2021 - 14:16

Master of Public Health Student, Evelyn Zavala, Educates Others on the Importance of Public Health.

Zavala, a Student Ambassador for This is Public Health, educates high school and college students across the nation on the importance of public health and the career opportunities the field provides.

Evelyn Zavala, Master of Public Health student at the College of Health and Human Services, has a mission to educate others on the importance of public health.

As the This is Public Health (TIPH) Student Ambassador for the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), Zavala informs college and high school students across the nation about the opportunities a public health degree provides.

Founded by ASPPH, the This Is Public Health campaign raises awareness about education and career options in public health through outreach initiatives. To date, the group has over 94 Student Ambassadors from across the nation and has participated in 78 graduate fairs and 31 roadshow events to promote public health education.

“I was inspired to pursue being a TIPH Student Ambassador because I wanted to educate high school and college students about public health and how they can get involved or pursue a career in public health,” Zavala said. “After all, when I was a freshman, I had no idea this fantastic field existed.”

According to Zavala, the primary duties of serving as a TIPH Student Ambassador involve engaging in social media outreach, working on various health education projects, giving presentations to students, and answering questions at public health fairs.

“We get to motivate and encourage other people who don't know about public health and all the opportunities available at different universities,” Zavala said. “It's an incredible networking experience and [participants are] extremely diverse in backgrounds and interests.”

Serving as a Student Ambassador for TIPH has presented Zavala with many professional development opportunities that she can apply to her future career, such as networking and public speaking. She also represents Mason’s public health program, where she reflects on why she chose a public health degree and empowers others to pursue similar degrees.

Zavala feels that public health is still overlooked by most students. “The campaign, This is Public Health, highlights how everything around us is public health but not many people know what public health is until a crisis like COVID-19 or an epidemic is mentioned,” Zavala said.

The experience has taught Zavala the importance of working with other dedicated ambassadors to achieve the same goal of increasing the understanding of public health. “What I have seen from all of the TIPH student ambassadors is that we all do a little to make a huge difference,” Zavala said. “Even in different parts of the country, every little bit counts, and we are moving towards healthier lives for the country.”

In May, Zavala will graduate with a Master of Public Health degree and a concentration in Epidemiology. “After graduation, I hope to continue to serve my county in my role as a Case Interviewer for the Institute of Public Health Innovations, working with the Fairfax County Health Department to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Virginia,” Zavala said. “I hope to see the [COVID-19] response to its end and then move into a federal or other epidemiologist position with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Emory University in Atlanta, GA.”