Growing up in Chilhowie, Va., may have planted the seed of interest in gerontology for Jason.
“The continuum of life was very evident when I was young,” he says. “We lived in the same town as my grandparents, and older people were very much a part of our lives, whether through church or daily activities.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in English, Jason was hired as a program assistant at the Council of Social Work Education’s Center for Gerontological Social Work Education, exposing him to a number of Brown School alums as well as several faculty members. It wasn't long before he decided to pursue an MSW at the Brown School.
“Studying gerontology is wonderful because it focuses on the whole life course. People need change, and they want to explore new things about themselves and new learning opportunities."
Jason quickly made an impact at the Brown School and became active in the Gerontology Student Association (GSA) immediately upon arrival, serving as co-chair for a year. His work with GSA resulted in a winning YouTube entry for a contest on “This is Social Work and Aging,” sponsored by the John A. Hartford Foundation Geriatric Social Work Initiative.
Outside of the classroom, Jason has worked in both micro- and macro-level social work practicum positions.
“I did home visits and case management with HOPE (Housing Options Provided for the Elderly),” he says. “It was a great and challenging experience. I would meet with an older adult about finding an apartment, and we would end up speaking about many other issues, such as budgeting and access to medical care.”
He received overall policy experience through his work with the Alzheimer’s Association-St. Louis chapter.
“It’s been really interesting to dive into Missouri state politics. I’ve come to respect both the one-on-one and public policy social work roles. You need both.”
After graduation, Jason would like to stay in St. Louis and work to strengthen communities by including older adults.