Emily A. Greenfield

Dr. Emily A. Greenfield is a professor of social work and the founding director of the Hub for Aging Collaboration at Rutgers University. Her scholarship seeks to bolster community-centered approaches for advancing innovation in social programs for long and healthy lives. Dr. Greenfield’s work has helped to accelerate 21st century models for aging in community, including age- and dementia-friendly community initiatives, housing-based supportive service programs, and organizational Villages. Dr. Greenfield’s scholarship on aging in community includes both studying and participating in cross-sectoral partnerships, including with the nonprofit, public, and civic sectors, as well as industry and higher education. Much of her scholarship also centers the voices of people leading on-the-ground community change efforts. As a prominent example, she has led community-engaged research with philanthropically and publicly supported age-friendly community initiatives in New Jersey to help build the field of age-friendly systems change while also accelerating age-friendly community work in New Jersey. Funders of her work include the National Institute on Aging, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Alzheimer's Association, as well as private foundations and donors.

Greenfield, E. A., Pope, N.E., & Amir-Koren, U. (2026). Human capital and developmental strengths: Older adults and the implementation of age-friendly community initiatives. The Gerontologist.  Advance online access. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnag202

Greenfield, E. A., & Pope, N. E. (2025). Healthy aging outcomes research with Villages as grassroots community-based organizations: A framework for capacity development. The Gerontologist, 65(7), 1-12. Advance online access. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaf145

Greenfield, E. A., & Black, K. (2025). Principles and approaches for unifying an age-friendly movement. Generations Journal. https://generations.asaging.org/unifying-age-friendly-movement/

Greenfield, E. A., Black, K., Buffel, T., & Yeh, J.* (2019). Community gerontology: A framework for research, policy, and practice. The Gerontologist, 59(5), 803-810. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny089