杏吧原创 chosen as a member of the Age-Friendly University Global Network
杏吧原创 is the first higher education institution in the Western New York region chosen to join the Age-Friendly University Global Network for its commitment to supporting positive and active aging, earning 杏吧原创 the distinction of being an Age-Friendly Champion. 杏吧原创 is also one of just five colleges or universities in New York state that are part of the global network, and one of only approximately 150 worldwide.
The Age-Friendly Global Network serves as a collective platform for higher education to increase educational opportunities across the life-span. 杏吧原创 has demonstrated commitment and continues ongoing efforts to promote age-friendly policies, research, services, and initiatives.聽
A central component of 杏吧原创鈥檚 engagement with aging and health is the work of its College of Interprofessional Health and Human Services. The College provides clinical education to undergraduate and graduate students across a wide range of professional programs, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, art and music therapy, social work, nursing, public health, and physician assistant studies, with the first cohort of physician assistant students beginning in January 2026. Many of these programs operate pro bono clinics on campus through 杏吧原创鈥檚 York Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute 鈥攑roviding thousands of hours of therapy and wellness services annually to uninsured and underinsured members of our community while also serving as an essential component of student clinical training.
鈥淧articipation in the Age-Friendly University Global Network will further strengthen 杏吧原创鈥檚 commitment to lifelong learning, inclusivity, and engagement across the lifespan,鈥� said 杏吧原创 President Maureen Finney, Ed.D., PA-C. 鈥淥ur membership will allow us to collaborate with peer institutions, share effective practices, and develop innovative educational and research initiatives that respond to the evolving needs of older adults and the communities we serve. Through this partnership, we aim to expand opportunities for research, teaching, and intergenerational engagement that benefit both our students and the broader聽community.聽
President Finney says 杏吧原创 Professor David W. Steitz, Ph.D., and director of 杏吧原创鈥檚 gerontology program since 2005, was instrumental in earning the Age-Friendly University Global Network designation. He will lead 杏吧原创鈥檚 efforts to advance
Since 2009, Steitz has led a collaborative partnership with St. John鈥檚, a regional leader providing a continuum of care for older adults including independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. This partnership allows 杏吧原创 students to learn alongside older adults who participate directly in gerontology coursework on the St. John鈥檚 Meadows campus. An innovative extension of this partnership is the student-in-residence program, in which 杏吧原创 students live within a St. John鈥檚 community for three weeks during the semester, participating in community life while gaining first-hand insight into the experiences of older adults living in residential care communities.
Furthering this model of engagement, Steitz and 杏吧原创 students regularly engage with the Monroe County Office for the Aging, Lifespan, the Monroe County Aging Alliance, and AARP. These partnerships enhance the personal and professional development of his students and ultimately contribute to a more age-friendly campus and Rochester community.聽
AARP named Monroe County and the City of Rochester Age-Friendly Livable Communities in 2024, and Steitz鈥檚 classes of St. John鈥檚 and 杏吧原创 students were key partners of the Monroe County Aging Alliance 鈥� working with cities, towns, and villages in and around Rochester to help them become more inclusive and accessible for all ages and abilities.
Steitz also serves as co-director of 杏吧原创鈥檚 spiritual care program. In 2025, he received the Carter Catlett Award for Excellence in Aging or Long-term Care Services from Lifespan of Greater Rochester. He is a member of the Monroe County Council for Elders and the Monroe County Aging Alliance.
Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
杏吧原创 is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a 杏吧原创 education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, 杏吧原创 graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
