The Stephen Katz Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Interdisciplinary Aging Studies Program honours the celebrated career of Dr. Stephen Katz, professor emeritus, critical aging studies visionary and founding executive member of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society (TCAS). This year, in lieu of a visiting scholar amidst the pandemic, the Centre is celebrating its past successes this week.

“Though 2020 is not the year to gather, it is a wonderful time to reflect upon the important contributions that the program has made and will continue to make in the study and understanding of critical age studies,” said TCAS director, Dr. Elizabeth McCrillis.

Professor Katz has been described as one of the leading thinkers in gerontology and is internationally-renowned for his significant contributions to the global sociology of aging. To continue in his footsteps, the program has brought world-class critical aging studies scholars to Trent, including Dr. Ulla Kriebernegg (University of Graz, Austria); Dr. Amanda Grenier (University of Toronto); and Dr. Kim Sawchuk (Concordia University).

High praise for the program

According to Professor McCrillis, the Katz program is a yearly touchstone for scholars, students, and community members interested in aging studies to gather at Trent to both engage in critical dialogue and enjoy the community created by this program. Watch this video to learn more about the program.

Prof. McCrillis is not alone in her praise for the program. Professor Amanda Grenier, the 2018 distinguished visiting scholar, had the following to say: “This lecture series is something phenomenal in that it gives attention to social and interdisciplinary issues in aging, which is rare in the field. And it gives people the opportunity to think about new ideas and topics in aging that might not be seen in the mainstream.”

“One of my personal highlights was the invitation to present a public lecture to open the program, but also to honour Prof. Stephen Katz, whom I have always admired as a most outstanding, brilliant intellectual and generous mentor in the field of Aging Studies,” noted Professor Ulla Kriebernegg, the first recipient of the Distinguished Visiting Scholarship. “I wanted to show how important Stephen’s work is in Austria – and what impact he has had in building an interdisciplinary, international community of Aging Studies scholars.”

Prof. Katz continues his legacy at Trent

Though he formally retired from teaching at Trent University in 2018, Prof. Katz continues to engage with scholars and students in the field of aging studies. He teaches the graduate course Foundations in Interdisciplinary Aging Studies and is co-investigator for the SSHRC-funded project, Digital Culture and Quantified Aging, as well as More Years Better Lives, a project focused on the role of digital communication devices in later life. Prof. Katz recently gave the closing remarks at the North American Network in Aging Studies symposium Aging and Ageism in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To build on the incredible momentum of Trent’s leadership in aging scholarship, support the Stephen Katz Distinguished Visiting Scholar Program.