FSU Claude Pepper Center

FSU College of Social Work Assistant Professor Dr. Katy (Qiuchang) Cao and FSU Claude Pepper Center Director Dr. Dawn Carr authored a peer-reviewed research paper: Occupational autonomy and cognitive function: the moderating role of educational attainment. The paper was published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B. Learn more here: https://fla.st/CELSQ0MS

FSU Opening Minds through Art Intergenerational art program connecting students & people with dementia - FSU Claude Pepper Center

Florida State University honors the memory of those lost and all who were impacted by the tragedy on campus one year ago, April 17.

At noon, the FSU community will pause for a moment of silence and reflection. This time will be marked by the sound of bells ringing across campus, followed by a moment of silence.

The Student Government Association will host a space for reflection on Legacy Walk, near the FSU letters, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Flowers will be available for placement on the FSU letters, along with messages of hope.

The Unconquered Statue will be lit throughout the day as a symbol of remembrance and resilience.

Links for resources for students, faculty and staff are available at response.fsu.edu.

📢 Save the Date!

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kenneth M. Langa, Cyrus Sturgis Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan, as our next ISL Distinguished Speaker!

🗓 Thursday, January 29, 2026
📍 Florida State University

Dr. Langa is a world-renowned leader in aging research, dementia, and cognitive health. His groundbreaking work has shaped how we understand Alzheimer’s disease and the impacts of chronic illness on older adults.

Stay tuned for the full agenda, including:
- Research Seminar on dementia & cognitive aging
- Panel Discussion at FSU/Tallahassee Senior Center
- Faculty & Graduate Student Luncheon

Co-sponsored by the Claude Pepper Center & Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy.

🔗 Learn more about Dr. Langa: nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flanga.lab.medicine.umich.edu%2Fbio-and-cv&data=05%7C02%7Cvvalko%40fsu.edu%7Cdeef3ec95da04deba67a08ddf54ee711%7Ca36450ebdb0642a78d1b026719f701e3%7C0%7C0%7C638936441451527537%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=U7PrxIs1o6%2FEA21%2FHUBfEkVvHpzGgVW5c70cCK24eU0%3D&reserved=0

A Florida State University College of Social Sciences and Public Policy researcher is part of a pioneering team that has developed a new measure to understand and support healthy aging, with the potential to change how health care workers, employers, and policymakers assist older adults in remaining active and engaged.

Dawn Carr, Ph.D., director of FSU Claude Pepper Center and professor of sociology, is part of the multi-institutional research team that includes experts from Tufts University, University of Washington, Urban Institute and University of Michigan. Through their research, the team developed the Index of Aging in Midlife and Beyond (IAM+)External Link, a simple and accessible new tool designed to measure and predict healthy aging.

“The solvency of our future workforce and health care system depends on researchers identifying ways to move the needle in improving the health of our rapidly aging population,” Dr. Carr said. “With tools like the IAM+ measure, we are better positioned to identify public health strategies and individual health behaviors that can increase the number of years people can remain actively engaged in meaningful activities.”

Read more: https://news.fsu.edu/news/business-law-policy/2025/12/08/fsu-researcher-helps-unveil-innovative-tool-to-measure-healthy-aging/

AARP Florida and Florida State University’s Claude Pepper Center organized the inaugural 2025 Florida Caregiving Summit. The event brought together leading policymakers, specialists in aging and disability services, and workforce development professionals to discuss the future of family caregiving in Florida. https://claudepeppercenter.fsu.edu/fsu-claude-pepper-center-and-aarp-florida-unite-caregivers-leaders-through-inaugural-florida-caregiving-summit/

Dawn Carr, Ph.D., is the director of the Claude Pepper Center and Professor of Sociology at Florida State University. Dr. Carr was the lead author of a recently published article titled “The Protective Effects of Psychological Resilience on Fall Risk."

The study was a collaborative effort with Shekhar Chauhan, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow; Miles G. Taylor, Ph.D., director of the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy and professor of sociology; Matthew Lohman, Ph.D., of the University of South Carolina; and Amanda Sonnega, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan.

“Our research highlights the importance of psychological resilience as a protective factor for older adults,” Dr. Carr said. “By showing that PR helps reduce the risk of repeat falls, our findings suggest that PR may be an important risk factor that should be considered in fall-prevention programs. Strategies to support both physical and psychological health may help older adults stay safer and more independent.”

Read more at the link in our bio (COSSPP News!)

Researchers with Claude Pepper Center and Pepper Institute on Aging & Public Policy examined how pre-widowhood psychological resilience (PR) affects depressive symptom recovery following spousal loss among older men and women. The team concluded that bolstering PR before spousal loss could provide protective effects against depressive symptoms. https://claudepeppercenter.fsu.edu/associations-between-pre-widowhood-psychological-resilience-and-subsequent-depressive-symptom-recovery-following-spousal-loss-among-men-and-women/