Tracey Gendron, Ph.D., chair and professor of VCU Department of Gerontology and executive
director of Virginia Center on Aging, has been invited to speak about her book “Ageism
Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It” as part of town wide read in Newtown, CT.
Over the past six months, free copies of her book have been available for all community
members through a variety of events and discussion groups.

“Timeless Newtown: Embracing Every Generation” began offering lectures, special events and
programs in January 2025, designed to highlight the unique, individual experience of aging and
educate participants on the differences between lifespan and health span.

VCU Gerontology and the VCoA are committed to educating students, staff, faculty, and the
public about the pervasive, yet invisible, nature of ageism within our society and within
ourselves. Disrupting ageism is the beginning of changing the script. The next step in the
journey is to reframe aging as a time of continued growth, development and evolution – to
promote Elderhood as a way to value aging and older age.

“Newtown, CT. is raising the bar for anti-ageism advocacy,” said Gendron. “By adopting “Ageism
Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It” and making it available to the whole town,
Newtown is making a bold and meaningful investment in their future growth as a community that
values the contributions of people of all ages.”

With a unique perspective and an all-inclusive approach, “Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age
Bias and How to End It” continues Dr. Gendron’s transformative work to inspire people of all
ages to embrace aging as our universal and lifelong process of developing over time —
biologically, psychologically, socially and spiritually.

Dr. Gendron is scheduled to speak at the culminating event of the town read at Edmond Town
Hall, 45 Main Street, Newton, CT, on Thursday, Sept. 18, beginning at 7 p.m. with a Q&A
following her presentation. Meet & Greet and book signing opportunities will be available at a
later date.

About VCU Gerontology

The Department of Gerontology, founded in 1976, became a part of the College of Health
Professions at Virginia Commonwealth University in January 1985. The department is
well-known for the quality and innovation of its programs and for the scholarship and applied
expertise of its faculty. The Department of Gerontology offers a variety of degree programs
based on an interdisciplinary approach using the bio-psycho-social model. With a mission of promoting optimal aging for individuals and communities, Gerontology graduates further the
person-centered mission of the department largely in the areas of administration, education,
advocacy and entrepreneurship. The Gerontology Department envisions continued commitment
to service, scholarship and education, with a focus on the DisruptAgeism and Elderhood
Development paradigms.

The VCU Department of Gerontology is fully accredited by the Accreditation for Gerontology
Education Council (AGEC) and remains the only NAB accredited program for Assisted Living
Administration both in Virginia and nationally.

For more information, visit https://gerontology.chp.vcu.edu/. For media inquiries, please contact
Edmund Boxley at boxleyek@vcu.edu.