West Virginia University psychology doctoral candidate, Mindi Spencer, was recently selected as a 2005 Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) Fellow.

Spencer, a student in the life-span developmental program in the Department of Psychology in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, will present her research at the Annual GIA Conference Oct. 26-28 in Baltimore, Md.

Her presentation,Meet our Future Leaders in Aging,focuses on older adults who tend to be under-represented in the academic literature, whether regional, sexual, or racial/ethnic minority group members. Specifically, she is interested in the application of traditional psychosocial models to better understand adulthood and aging among diverse populations.

The people behind the 2005 Annual Conference, �€~Aging with Attitude,are committed to highlighting older adults as productive and integral members of a changing society,Spencer commented.As a researcher and a student of aging, I know I will learn a lot from the grantmakers in attendance.”

Spencer is a 2005-2006 AARP Scholar, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) Minority Aging Network in Psychology, and a member of various committees related to the promotion of diversity. She is a Charleston native and the daughter of Gary and Sharon Spencer.

The GIA is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting and strengthening grantmaking for an aging society. For more information on GIA , please visit their website,http://www.giaging.org.