Scholars Program
The Age-Friendly Innovation Center Scholar Program is a semester-long experience, designed to provide current undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students with the opportunity to obtain an understanding of aging, the international age-friendly movement, and practical work experience with multi-disciplinary leaders.
Each Autumn semester, scholars work for Age-Friendly in a variety of capacities, depending on the nature of current priorities and projects. Scholars will have the opportunity to attend Age-Friendly team meetings, program work groups, focus groups, community meetings, and many other events and forums during their employment period. The opportunities will be a mix of educational, experiential and service learning. For more information or to connect about the upcoming application opportunities, email AgeFriendly@osu.edu.
Welcome to the Autumn 2025 Scholar Cohort!
- Ashely Wells
- Hodan Deria
- Isabella Barba
- Maggie Morrison
- Mallory Leichty
- Michael Fox
- Olivia Ramos
- Rachel Wilcox
- Snehil Pulluri
Scholar Alumni Highlights
Billan Gurreh (’24) (opens in a new tab)
I successfully defended my Master’s Integrative Learning Experience project! I want to express my gratitude to the Age-Friendly Innovation Center, Ohio State University, College of Social Work for inspiring me to advocate for an Age-Friendly Public Health System in Columbus.
Source: linkedin.com (opens in a new tab)
Corrina Hyde (’22) (opens in a new tab)
With two decades in social services, Corrina Hyde is passionate about connecting people to vital services. During her master’s program, she worked with the Age Friendly Innovation Center, focusing on supporting older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Source: linkedin.com (opens in a new tab)
Anna Sheeran (’23) (opens in a new tab)
Please say hi to our incredible 2024-2025 fellows with the House MInority Caucus (Ohio House Dems)!
Source: facebook.com (opens in a new tab)
Nathan Grizenko (’21) (opens in a new tab)
Nathan (he/him) is a licensed occupational therapist and a graduate of The Ohio State University. Guided by the belief that care should center on what truly matters to individuals, Nathan asks his clients, “What matters to you?” rather than “What’s wrong with you?” This perspective fuels his dedication to fostering occupational justice—the universal right to engage in meaningful daily activities.
Source: facebook.com (opens in a new tab)
Al Cho (’22) (opens in a new tab)
How can organizations like the COAAA ensure that their inclusivity efforts address the needs of both their LGBTQ+ staff and community members?
Source: podcasts.apple.com (opens in a new tab)
Spencer See (’21) (opens in a new tab)
Chad Gibson’s City and Regional Planning graduate planning studio won the American Planning Association’s Small Town and Rural Planning award for best student project for their updated land use plan for Darke County, Ohio. The award will be presented at the APA’s National Planning Conference in Minneapolis on April 15.
Source: knowlton.osu.edu (opens in a new tab)
Corrina Hyde (’22) (opens in a new tab)
If Central Ohio is going to become a greener place, more of us will need to ride COTA. So what’s keeping us away? For a good number, it appears to be the intimidation factor. Learning to ride a bus is a bit like picking up a foreign language. And if you don’t have a good teacher, you’ll probably never have the courage to speak in a different tongue. Well, turns you can get a COTA teacher—and her name is Corrina Hyde. For about a year, she’s served as the bus authority’s social services program manager. And as part of that job, she offers “travel training”—tutorials on the basics of COTA, including how to pay, find maps and schedules, transfer to other buses, exit and board vehicles, and use online and digital resources like the Transit app.
Source: columbusmonthly.com (opens in a new tab)
Randi Hamill (’21) (opens in a new tab)
This week, LeadingAge Ohio welcomed Randi Hamill as Workforce Director. Randi joins LeadingAge Ohio on a part-time basis until April, when she will graduate with her Masters in Social Work from The Ohio State University and begin full-time work for LeadingAge Ohio. She comes to LeadingAge Ohio having worked several years in adult protective services in North Carolina, where she supported clients across the continuum including in facility settings. Here in Ohio she’s worked with the Age Friendly Innovation Center at the Ohio State University, supporting the development and evaluation of their Age Friendly Scholars program.
Source: leadingageohio.org (opens in a new tab)
Karina Burck (’22) (opens in a new tab)
Host Site: Community Housing Network
School: The Ohio State University
Major: Policy Analysis, City & Regional Planning
Source: tcfsummerfellows.blog (opens in a new tab)
Rheanna Valesquez (’22) (opens in a new tab)
Rheanna and Isaac are working with The Ohio State Wexner Medical Centers Healthy Community Center and Urban Aging Residents Coalition to promote nutrition, health literacy, and community wellness among Columbus older adults.
Source: Ohio State University (opens in a new tab)
Yasmine Kadimi-Skalli (’24) (opens in a new tab)
Skalli arrives at ISR after completing her bachelor’s degree in social and environmental geography at Ohio State University. During her time at OSU, she completed an independent research project examining the community development and place-making practices of Muslims in Detroit.
Source: Institute for Social Research University of Michigan (opens in a new tab)
Emily Long (opens in a new tab)
AHACO is proud to invite you to the June 8th premiere of Anita Kwan's short film: "United: the Hidden History of the Humble Duplex". This is a powerful story of how the duplex rose as a symbol of Columbus’ middle-class mobility, was nearly outlawed in the era of segregationist zoning, and is now reemerging as a tool for growth, wealth, and individuality.
Source: linkedin.com (opens in a new tab)