Dr. Janice Wassel, Director of the gerontology program at UNCG, recently served on a national panel to discuss market changes as the Baby Boom generation approaches retirement.

The panel discussion, entitled “The Baby Boomers and Beyond,” was part of a policy forum held May 9 in Washington, D.C., by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA).  The panel also included experts from the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission; the Senate Special Commission on Aging; securities industry regulators; and “The Boomer Project,” a market research project targeting Baby Boomers.

Wassel stressed the importance of promoting financial literacy for Boomers, particularly female Boomers who are single, divorced, or widowed.

UNCG’s gerontology program joined forces with the university’s Bryan School of Business and Economics to develop a Master of Science in Gerontology/Master of Business Administration dual degree.  The program’s goal is to produce business professionals who are educated on aging issues and ready to face the markets and demands of our changing society in areas such as marketing, residential options, home care markets, human resource management and financial advice.

Wassel earned a PhD in sociology and demography at Pennsylvania State University.  Prior to coming to UNCG, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow and research associate at Duke University.  Her professional memberships include the American Sociological Association; the Gerontological Society of America; the Population Association of America; Sigma Phi Omega; and the Southern Gerontological Society, where she is currently serving a board term.  In 2005 she earned the Registered Financial Gerontologist designation from the American Institute of Financial Gerontology. 

A webcast of the panel discussion is available at www.nasaa.org through August 1.

-June 2006