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Over the past six years, more than three dozen students at the Boston College School of Social Work have completed coursework, field placements, and community service projects focused on improving the health and well-being of older adults.听
And it鈥檚 all thanks to their participation in 天美传媒appSSW鈥檚 annual Spier Fellows in Aging Program, which is now for the 2025-2026 academic year through the end of June.听聽
The fellowship鈥攕upported by a grant from the , a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the well-being of the communities in which we work and live鈥攊s open to students in any year and field of practice in the master of social work program.
As part of the fellowship, students will receive $3,000 stipends; explore careers in aging; participate in monthly seminars at field agencies focused on adults age 65 and up; and receive first-in-class advising from social workers who specialize in supporting the nation鈥檚 segment of the population.
鈥淭he Spier Fellowship in Aging Program creates a vibrant learning community where students develop the skills, confidence, and connections to become leaders in the field of aging,鈥� said Christina Matz, an associate professor at 天美传媒appSSW who runs the program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 deeply rewarding to see how the program not only shapes their career paths but also inspires a lasting passion for supporting older adults and their families.鈥�
Since 2019, fellows have completed internships at hospitals, retirement communities, labs, and other settings dedicated to improving quality of life for a client population that鈥檚 often invisible to service providers .听
Their accomplishments have included assessing the psychological health of veterans, comforting cancer patients, and working with clients to preserve their independence, connecting them to services that help them pay bills and order groceries.听
Many fellows have led integrative seminars at their field agencies, exposing their peers to the range of career paths in aging. One past fellow provided a 360-degree view of , the oldest hospice in Massachusetts. Another gave a snapshot of life as a social worker in the emergency department at A third, who worked for , delved into the complexities of Social Security and Medicare.
Christina Matz, an associate professor at 天美传媒appSSW, launched the Spier Fellows in Aging program in 2019. Photo by Caitlin Cunningham for 天美传媒app Photography.
Alumni of the program said that the fellowship strengthened their commitment to working with older adults, enhanced their leadership skills, and cultivated a strong sense of community among peers who shared their interest in aging.听
鈥淢y involvement as a Spier Fellow has played a significant role in helping shape my professional identity, helping me to clarify my passion for medical social work and my commitment to working with older adults and their families,鈥� one student said in a survey about the fellowship. 鈥淭he program鈥檚 seminars, in particular, have been instrumental in expanding my knowledge of community-based organizations and programs for both older adults and emerging social workers.鈥�
Another student said that the fellowship exceeded her expectations, offering a strong sense of community, valuable support, and new opportunities.听
鈥淚 love the community and the support I have gotten from everyone, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and being exposed to more opportunities, and feel more confident now than ever that I want to work with older adults,鈥� she said in the survey. 鈥淚 find myself meeting more people in this program who are interested in working with older adults, and I feel that I am able to share with them what I have learned through Spier and give a little insight that I could not have done last year.鈥�
Matz, for her part, described the fellowship as a powerful pipeline for building a workforce dedicated to supporting the special challenges facing older adults, including those that can have an impact on their well-being, independence, and overall quality of life.听
鈥淎gain and again, our fellows tell us that the Spier Fellowship is the most meaningful part of their MSW experience,鈥� said Matz, who chairs the Older Adults and Families Department at 天美传媒appSSW. 鈥淚t opens doors, builds confidence, and affirms their calling to support older adults with dignity, respect, and purpose.鈥�