PCC
Emergency Messages as of 6:48 am, Thu. Mar. 28
No information currently posted.
Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from PCC.
Primary email address for a new account:

  
And/or follow our FlashAlerts via Twitter

About FlashAlert on Twitter:

FlashAlert utilizes the free service Twitter to distribute emergency text messages. While you are welcome to register your cell phone text message address directly into the FlashAlert system, we recommend that you simply "follow" the FlashAlert account for PCC by clicking on the link below and logging in to (or creating) your free Twitter account. Twitter sends messages out exceptionally fast thanks to arrangements they have made with the cell phone companies.

Click here to add PCC to your Twitter account or create one.

@portlandcc

Hide this Message


Manage my existing Subscription

News Release
Jan_Abushakrah_far_right.jpg
Jan_Abushakrah_far_right.jpg
Gerontological Society of America honors PCC's Jan Abushakrah (Photo) - 07/02/20

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the country’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — has bestowed the Clark Tibbitts Award to Portland Community College instructor Jan Abushakrah.

Abushakrah, who serves as PCC’s Gerontology Program faculty chair, was honored for her contribution to the advancement of gerontology and geriatrics education by GSA’s Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education.

“I will forever cherish this highest, annual award because I was secretly nominated by my PCC team, and then was in tears and speechless when I learned that I had been selected by the award committee,” Abushakrah said. “Our program has guided hundreds of students to complete their first college experience, additional college degree, or certificate in preparation for meaningful careers that make a positive difference in the lives of older persons.”

Abushakrah said she is most proud of her program’s wrap-around student support efforts and its “Ending Ageism” and “Flipping Mindsets” campaigns for encore or older learners entering college. The long-time faculty member played a significant role in the development of the international Gerontology Education Competencies as part of a new Gerontology Program Accreditation process, and she served on the nation’s first Accreditation for Gerontology Education Council Board of Governors.

PCC’s Gerontology Program (based at the Sylvania Campus in Southwest Portland) offers five career pathways certificates that prepare graduates to enter existing jobs and provide them with the skills needed to create new positions and directions through self-employment. Graduates work in a wide range of entry-level and advanced positions in aging services, long term care and community programs. This includes serving as life enrichment coordinators, health and wellness specialists, aging life care managers, advocates, horticultural therapists, and many more.

“In the Portland Metro area and around the globe, our graduates are having a profound impact on the quality of life of diverse older persons,” she added.

Her own staff have said that Abushakrah, who founded the program, has made the college’s Gerontology Program what it is today. She transitioned it into a fully online format to meet the needs and demands of busy students, which helped to ensure the long-term viability. Through her community-wide outreach and mentoring, Abushakrah has helped to build an affinity for the program by students and faculty.

“Jan’s passion and commitment to advancing gerontology programs across community colleges has demonstrated a leadership that is both collaborative and heartfelt,” stated Mike Faber in the award application. “Jan is a real pioneer in the field of gerontology education at the community college level.”

The award presentations will take place at GSA’s November 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia, either in-person or virtually. The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging.

 

About Portland Community College: Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to nearly 70,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, eight education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

 

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

Attached Media Files: Jan_Abushakrah_far_right.jpg
View more news releases from PCC.