Li-Mei Chen, PhD

Dr. Li-Mei Chen is Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, College of Public Health. Chen’s teaching and research focuses on dementia and aging, productive aging (volunteer, caregiving, self care, and employment), intersectionality and role of lifecourse in older ethnic minorities, community gerontology, and social policy. Among her recent projects included hosting an international seminar on person-centered care for dementia, several case studies on community-based strategies for civic engagement of older adults and the role of structural injustices and social exclusion on minority health and well-being. Before coming to Mason, Chen taught social work at Columbia University, University of Houston, Washington University in St. Louis, Kwansei Gakuin University (Japan), and Yokohama City University (Japan).

Awards

• 2023 Yokohama Chinatown Union Award for Research
• 2022 Silver Medal for Poster Competition, 5th International Putra InnoCreative Carnival in Teaching and Learning (i-PicTL2022)

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

• Member, Society for Applied Gerontology Japan
• Member, Association for Social Policy Studies
• Member, Japan Research Association of Community Development
• Member, Japanese Society of Public Health
• Member, Japan Socio-Gerontological Society
• Member, Japan Society for the Study of Social Work
• Member, Society for Social Work Research (SSWR)
• Member and Fellow, Gerontological Society of America (GSA)

Education

• BA, Political Science, Bryn Mawr College, May 1993
• PhD, Social Work, Columbia University, May 2002
• MSW, Social Work, University of Michigan, December 1997