JoAnn Damron-Rodriguez

JoAnn Damron-Rodriguez is an Adjunct Professor Emerita of Social Welfare at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Her academic career has focused on aging, community development, and maternal/child health. She holds a PhD and MSW in Social Welfare from UCLA.

• Affiliations: Veterans Health Administration Gerontology Committee, California Geriatric Education Center, Council of Social Work Education.
• Grants: Co-PI on Archstone Foundation grant (geriatric social work labor force), PI of Hartford Foundation evaluation, Co-PI on VA GRECC healthcare access study.

Her teaching innovations include the GE Honors Cluster course on human aging (1990s-2000s). Awards include UCLA’s Distinguished Teaching Award (2006) and Stevenson Residency honors (1998, 2000). She advises the WHO Kobe Center and has testified before state/federal legislatures on aging policy.

• Leadership Roles: Past President of California Council on Gerontology, Blue Ribbon Panel member for nursing homes, VA GRECC Associate Director (10+ years).