The Shelley Joseph-Kordell Memorial Scholarship provides over $20,000 annually to University of Minnesota graduate students committed to pursuing a career in aging services after completing their degrees.

The scholarship is open to students enrolled in Master’s, Ph.D., or professional doctorate programs at the University of Minnesota, with applications submitted in the fall. Students who have previously received the scholarship or faculty and staff receiving the Regents Scholarship are not eligible. Priority is given to those with a demonstrated commitment to the field of aging, and participation in the Aging Studies Interdisciplinary Group (ASIG) is encouraged.

Learn more about the Joseph-Kordell family story on SPH 40 Days of Gratitude.

Questions regarding the Scholarship can be directed to Rajean Moone, Ph.D., CHAI’s Associate Director of Policy, at moon0060@umn.edu.

2024-2025 Scholarship Winners

Andrea Mena Rodriguez
MPH in Community Health Promotion
School of Public Health, University of Minnesota

“My future goals in aging are focused on advancing public health initiatives that improve dementia care, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease, and enhance chronic disease management. I am dedicated to developing policies and programs that increase access to essential services for older adults, especially in underserved communities. Through my work, I aim to empower older adults and caregivers by creating community-based resources that support mental health, well-being, and overall quality of life.“

Andrew Hirst
PhD Student, Epidemiology
School of Public Health, University of Minnesota

“I am currently working on a paper with Dr. Jason Flatt looking at the association between dementia diagnoses and sexuality. I am also continuing as a research assistant with the Minnesota Inclusive LTSS for LGBTQ+ Seniors (MILLS) study looking at the impact of LGBTQ+ sensitivity training within nursing and assisted living homes. For my future dissertation and career, I hope to continue my epidemiological research in aging, specifically cognitive aging, within sexual and gender minorities“

Azylen Lunak
Master of Healthcare Administration
School of Public Health, University of Minnesota

“Upon earning my Master of Healthcare Administration degree, I am committed to advancing the well-being of older adults and their families. I aim to serve as a long-term care administrator, leading with compassion and inspiring teams to deliver high-quality, resident-centered care. I am passionate about demonstrating how exceptional care can transform the lives of older adults and contribute to the overall well-being of the aging population!“

Louise (Siyu) Gao
PhD Student, Social Work
College of Education and Human Development, School of Social Work, University of Minnesota

“I worked with older adults and their care partners as a social worker in nonprofits, inspiring my interest in understanding their experiences and identifying resources that could support them, such as improving intervention models and exploring community supports. With the growing sandwich generation, I want to amplify their voices and focus my research on addressing their needs, driving policy changes, and improving their quality of life.“

Shania Kuo
PhD Student, Sociology
College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota

“I am dedicated to supporting Asian American and racially marginalized elders and caregivers. My research examines the challenges Asian American caregivers face in accessing resources, providing care, and the impacts on their health and finances. I aim to work respectfully with communities, honoring their needs and dignity. As Asian Americans remain understudied and age amidst growing scrutiny of welfare systems, I believe my research will grow even more vital beyond my dissertation.“

Si-Yu Tsai
PhD Student, Rehabilitation Science
Medical School, University of Minnesota

“Preserved mobility and cognition are the building blocks of healthy aging, immensely impacting an individual’s quality of life and well-being. In my PhD journey, I aim to better understand neural and vascular mechanisms underlying balance and walking in the aging brain, and hopefully translate this knowledge to clinical practice to promote mobility and brain health for healthy aging.“

Tiffany Onyejiaka
MD Student
Medical School, University of Minnesota

“As a medical student, I am committed to improving older adults’ well-being, inspired by intergenerational living and learning experiences. Through The Pillars of Prospect Park Student Residency Program, I foster connections with seniors, and I care for elderly veterans at the Minneapolis VA with the VA VALUE Program. I hope to pursue an internal medicine-dermatology residency to address diseases impacting older patients and use my training to advance geriatric care and tackle gaps in the U.S. healthcare system.“

Past Recipients

• 2024: Christina Cauble, Kelly Moeller, John Mulcahy, Neha Reddy & Grace Savard
• 2023: Dina Belhasan & Emily Merkel & Jamie Stoppler & Dana Urbanski
• 2022: Janette Romero Saenz & Madeleine Howard & Michelle Berning & Heather Ferguson
• 2017: Ana Westervelt & Ruther Rath-Nesvacil & Kelse Pierce
• 2016: Mary Whipple & Katie Woken Louwagie & Eric Jutkowitz
• 2015: Tai Gilbert
• 2014: Heather Davila & Melanie Jackson & Breanna Wheeler
• 2013: Jessica Finlay & Tina Kilaberia
• 2012: Carrie Henning-Smith & Carina Noecker
• 2011: Ellen McCreedy
• 2010: Amanda Barnett
• 2009: Andrea Wysocki
• 2008: Charissa Eaton
• 2007: Mary Dierich
• 2006: Kristine Talley
• 2005: Rajean Moone

About Shelley Joseph-Kordell

“I can only echo countless others in saying what a kind, caring, compassionate human being Shelley was. She helped me and my family in so many ways with her guidance and expertise, and touched us with her love.”  ~Family member of a client

Shelley Joseph-Kordell was a pioneer in geriatric care management, a field that provides older adults and their families an array of support including medical advocacy, care coordination, long-term care advice, and research and arrangement of community services. More than 20 years earlier, she had anticipated the need for advocacy and service to seniors, founding the company “Estates in Transition/Rent a Daughter (now Pathfinder Care Management/Rent a Daughter) to serve seniors and their families. Setting the benchmark for care management for older adults in the Twin Cities, Shelley made professional advocacy and service for seniors her life’s passion.

Shortly before Shelley’s untimely death in 2003, she expressed optimism that the needs of older adults were gaining increased community attention. Shelley’s family, friends, and colleagues created the Scholarship to honor Shelley’s life and contributions to the community and recognize future leaders in geriatrics and aging services.