Teaching & Training
The Rutgers University School of Social Work has a long history of offering training and education on aging. Our curriculum emphasizes excellence in social work practice with older adults, families, and communities. We support students in academic programs to develop as practice leaders in aging, grounded in social work skills and values.
Opportunities for Students
-
The MSW Aging and Health Certificate Program is designed for students to specialize in aging as they pursue their graduate degree. This academic certificate program for Rutgers MSW students provides opportunities to engage in classroom and practicum learning at the interface of aging and health.
Contact: Lauren Snedeker
Learn more here.
Access informational about video here.
-
This competitive program with a monetary award is for Rutgers MSW students in their advanced year. Fellows complete a leadership project in their practicum placement.
Contact: Lauren Snedeker
Learn more here.
-
Organized as an extension of the MSW Aging and Health Certificate Program, the School hosts professionals in aging, health, and social work to speak on pressing practice topics. These virtual talks are open to all students.
Contact: Lauren Snedeker
Learn more here.
-
Careers in Aging Week is a national initiative led by the Gerontological Society of America. It typically takes place in the spring semester. Careers in Aging Week at Rutgers involves events that connect people from multiple Schools and Departments to encourage students and professionals to pursue work in aging. This annual programming is led through the Rutgers University (RU) Taskforce on Aging.
Contact: Lauren Snedeker
Learn more here.
-
We provide and identify opportunities for students to contribute to university-wide efforts to address ageism and support age inclusion through our team's leader of the Rutgers University (RU) Taskforce on Aging.
Contact: Lauren Snedeker
Learn more here.
-
If you are an employer with a job posting you wish to share with social work students, please contact the following:
Email: Lauren Snedeker
Email: RUSSW website team
-
The Hub for Aging Collaboration offers membership opportunities for doctoral students affiliated with the School to expand their expertise and networks in aging.
Learn more here.
Access Hub membership levels here.
Contact: Emily Greenfield
Exciting Opportunity for Future PhDs in Social Work!
The Hub for Aging Collaboration at the Rutgers School of Social Work is seeking a new PhD student team member to join us for the 2026–2027 academic year!
At the Hub, you'll be part of a dynamic and supportive research community focused on improving social contexts for aging and health equity. We offer a collaborative environment, professional mentorship, and high-quality research training in quantitative, qualitative, and community-engaged methods for students who are passionate about aging and social work.
- PhD Program Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
- Start Date: Fall 2026
To join our team as a PhD student, applicants must apply and be accepted into the Rutgers School of Social Work PhD Program, which includes a five-year funding package.
Opportunities for Professionals
The Rutgers School of Social Work (RUSSW) Office of Continuing Education works with professionals throughout their careers to promote excellence in social work practice with older adults, their families, and communities.
-
Continuing Education Webinars. The School organizes accredited workshops that social workers and other professionals can take toward continuing education certificates in aging. RUSSW CE webinars on aging are approved for continuing education credit for licensed social workers and licensed professional counselors in all 50 states.
Contact: Office of Continuing Education
Learn more here.
Continuing Education Certificate. The School offers a series of online workshops that professionals can complete for continuing education, including:
- Basic Certificate in Gerontology
- Advanced Certificate in Gerontology
- Certificate in Senior Housing Issues
- Certificate in Senior Services Management
Contact: Office of Continuing Education
Learn more here.
-
RUSSW works with organizations to develop customized trainings on aging that meet their specific professional needs. We identify expert and dynamic instructors to facilitate customized trainings. We also partner with professionals seeking to translate their aging-related expertise to a professional audience as guest instructors.
Contact: Office of Continuing Education
-
Since 1991, the New Jersey Division of Aging Services (Department of Human Services) has contracted with the School to provide training for new employees in Adult Protective Services. The School's Continuing Education Program administers the program and is currently offered as a 64-hour online webinar program with topics such as worker safety and self-care, understanding abuse, and interviewing skills.
Contact: ce@ssw.rutgers.edu
Learn more here.
Engagement
Our engagement efforts span the local, state, national, and international levels. We cultivate partnerships beyond the university to strengthen partnerships for social change on aging and health equity. We advance excellence in engagement by participating and leading multi-organizational groups that allow people from different sectors and geographies to share, connect, and amplify each other’s work.
*background photo credit Tom Franklin
Cross-Sectoral Groups
The Hub for Aging Collaboration partners with over 55 entities within and outside of Rutgers. Members of the Hub team are active in cross-sectoral groups at the regional, state, and national levels.
-
Multiple Hub members participate in this network of researchers convened through AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. This group meets quarterly and also at major conferences. Through this group, Hub members learn about the latest research endeavors in age-in-community, build collaborative partnerships for dissemination, and connect with graduate students from other universities.
Contact: Emily Greenfield
-
The Rutgers University School of Social Work co-facilitates AFNJ as a dynamic network of community leaders to amplify age-friendly progress, especially at the local level. We work in close partnership with The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation, The Grotta Fund for Older Adults, and New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well. AFNJ participants include individuals from more than 20 communities in seven counties, as well as statewide partners representing philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, elected officials, older residents, other institutions of higher education, and grassroots community groups. Guided by our ongoing research findings on age-friendly community practice, we develop learning sessions, manage AFNJ communications platforms, and arrange peer mentorship opportunities that are responsive to the expressed needs of community leaders.
Contact: Emily Greenfield
Learn more here.
-
Multiple core team members of the Hub are members of the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness (SILC), which works to galvanize collaborative action to address social isolation across the lifespan.
Learn more here.
-
Emily Greenfield was elected in 2025 to serve a four-year term as an officer of the Social Research, Policy and Practice Section at the Gerontological Society of America.
Contact: Emily Greenfield
Learn more here.
-
An advocacy campaign led by a collaboration of age-friendly leaders in New Jersey that is working to ensure that political administrations prioritize policies that ensure New Jerseyans can thrive in the Garden State as we age. The Rutgers Hub for Aging Collaboration is on the steering committee for the campaign.
Learn more here.
-
Lauren Snedeker is currently serving as a member of the New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) Board of Directors, active as of 2025.
Contact: Lauren Snedeker
Learn more here.
-
This Governor-appointed advisory committee, on which Dr. Emily Greenfield served, is led by the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services. Membership included leaders from NJ departments, as well as statewide nonprofits and advocacy organizations. By Executive Order, the Council was responsible for advising the State on the development of a blueprint to foster age-friendly communities.
Contact: Emily Greenfield
Blueprint on Age-Friendly Communities in New Jersey
Learn more here.
-
This coalition’s mission it is to increase engagement among New Jersey ALP providers and increase their capacity and knowledge exchange of promising practices. The coalition also serves to create a unified voice to support advocacy to scale the New Jersey ALP program across the state and to facilitate connections among ALP providers and key stakeholders, including state administrators, managed care organizations, and property managers.
Contact: Ayse Akincigil
-
The RU Taskforce on Aging works to educate and inspire students to become more age inclusive in their future professional roles. Launched from a Rutgers IDEA Innovation Grant, this service-oriented and student-focused taskforce strives to advance age inclusivity across the university.
Contact: Lauren Snedeker -
The Aging Advisory Council has been a long-lasting support to the Rutgers University School of Social Work’s Programs on Aging. The Council’s members include professionals in aging services across the state, alumni of the MSW Aging and Health certificate program, and Hub affiliates. The Council meets twice each year to review curriculum, facilitate opportunities for students, and share ideas on how to enhance educational offerings through field and continuing education.
Contact: Lauren Snedeker -
The Villages to Village Network Data & Evaluation Committee is a committee of the Village to Village Network board that works to advance data-based research and projects for the Village Movement. As of 2025, the committee is working to develop and launch a nationwide survey of all operational Villages: The 2025 National Survey of Villages.
Contact: Emily Greenfield
Hub E-Newsletter
The Hub maintains a growing e-newletter that reaches over 1,600 academics, practitioners, students, community partners, older residents across New Jersey and beyond. We send bi-annual e-blast newsletter updates with announcements on Hub-related activities and events, projects, research, and education. Explore our past e-blast communications below.