Growing up in the small rural town of Leighton, Alabama, with a population of 650, Dr. Cathy Scott vividly recalled living across the street from her grandmother in a “very close-knit community.”
“I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and older people in my community,” she said. “I remember, when I was first able to drive, taking my grandmother to the doctor or the grocery store and helping other people. It really was just a part of me.”
Her upbringing was the foundation for her future.
Scott, an associate professor in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Social Work and the Bachelor of Social Work program director, has been selected as a Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Fellow–an honor bestowed upon those who demonstrate exceptional commitment to aging issues through research, teaching and service.
The GSA is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education and practice in the field of aging. GSA’s mission is to cultivate excellence in interdisciplinary aging research and education to advance innovations in practice and policy.
As a member of the UTC faculty since 2011, Scott’s research interests focus on aging, Alzheimer’s disease, caregiver burden, and grandparents raising grandchildren.
In addition to her research, Scott plays a crucial role in several state-funded grant initiatives to build a dementia-friendly community. She currently serves on the ROAD MAP grant initiative, which focuses on supporting older adults in surrounding rural communities. Her experience includes a decade with the PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program through Alexian Brothers Community Services, further solidifying her expertise.
“Outstanding faculty are the key to successful programs and are often the reason students choose a specific career path. Dr. Cathy Scott is such a faculty member,” said Dr. Valerie Rutledge, dean of the UTC College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. “Her dedication to her profession and her students is evident in many ways. Her service to her chosen field has resulted in many accomplishments, including a successful accreditation review of the Bachelor of Social Work program.
“She is an example of someone who invests in her students and, as a result, is clearly deserving of the designation of fellow in the Gerontological Society of America.”
Scott, who obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master’s from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, said she has always had a passion for helping others.
Her accomplishment will be celebrated at the GSA’s 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Nov. 13-16 in Seattle.
“It really means a lot to receive this honor,” she said. “It means that my work is being recognized, but the more significant thing is that older adults and families and students are benefiting from the work that I’ve done.
“To know that my name is connected to enhancing the lives of older adults and their caregivers… yes, I’m pretty stoked about that. It’s validating.”