Sarah Jen

Sarah Jen is an Associate Professor and PhD Program Director at the School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas. Her research focuses on intersections of social work, gerontology, and sexuality, particularly among women and bisexual/non-mono-sexual older adults. She explores aging sexuality, sexual identity, and LGBTQ+ health equity through a life course perspective.

Dr. Jen holds a Ph.D. from the University of Washington. Her work has been recognized with awards including the Warren G. Magnuson Health Sciences Scholar (2017-2018) and Hartford Scholar (2014-2015). Her research employs creative methodologies like poetry and art-based projects to amplify marginalized voices in aging studies.

Key themes in her publications include queer gerontology frameworks, compassion in social work practice, and intersectional stigma among LGBTQ+ communities. She advocates for policies supporting sexual expression and dignity in long-term care settings.

Her recent work addresses pandemic impacts on academic mothers and social work education, emphasizing resilience and adaptive strategies. She collaborates on community action projects fostering intergenerational dialogue through art.