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Whether it’s through her teaching or research, BoRin Kim always has the bigger picture in mind — growing the field of gerontology.

contributions to aging research and her commitment to mentoring future gerontologists recently earned her recognition as a Fellow of the , one of the highest honors in the field of aging research and education.

The GSA is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the study of aging. Fellow status is awarded by peers in recognition of outstanding and continuing contributions to gerontology through research, teaching, service, and professional leadership.

Kim, an associate professor of social work who joined UNH in 2014, says the GSA has played a major role in her professional growth, providing mentorship, professional connections, and opportunities to exchange ideas with colleagues from across the field.

Throughout her career, she's tried to pay that support forward. Earning fellow status, she says, affirms that those efforts have made a difference.

“I’ve always been very focused on the work. Doing good research, learning from mentors, building collaborations, and supporting students,” Kim says. “It all started to add up, and looking back now, I can see how one project led to another and how those efforts gradually built a career.”

Kim’s research focuses on healthy aging and aging in place, with an emphasis on the social, cultural, and environmental factors that shape older adults’ well-being. Her work has spanned nationally representative studies, cross-national comparisons, and community-based research. Kim says her earlier work examined aging at the population level, but her desire to make a more direct impact in local communities has increasingly led her toward community-engaged research.  

BoRin Kim 

More recently, she has focused on rural digital health, intergenerational programs, and partnerships that connect research with the everyday experiences of older adults and their communities — issues that are especially relevant in New Hampshire, one of the oldest states in the country.

"I'm interested in questions that have real-world implications and can help create more supportive environments for older adults,” Kim says. “Along the way, I've been fortunate to work with wonderful students and community partners across New Hampshire, from senior housing communities to intergenerational programs. Mentoring students and building those partnerships have been some of the most meaningful parts of my career."

As both an instructor and coordinator of UNH's gerontology multidisciplinary minor, Kim believes that getting students interested in gerontology issues and research is essential to growing the field. Through guest lectures and classroom discussions, she challenges students to think about the realities of an aging population and the growing need for professionals who understand the unique opportunities and challenges associated with aging.

Kim says many students who initially enter her classes with little interest in gerontology have gone on to pursue the minor, become involved in research projects, and choose careers working with older adults.

“I’ve done a lot of work selling gerontology,” Kim says. "I show students how the population is changing and what the future looks like. Many of them don't think much about aging because they're young, but when they see the demographic trends, they realize this is their issue, too. If there are going to be more older adults and only a small number of people interested in working with them, what happens? That's why we need more students in this field."

Kim credited Kirsten Corazzini, dean of the UNH College of Health and Human Services, for her role on the GSA nomination committee and for being a mentor and role model.

Corazzini says one of Kim's greatest strengths is her ability to show students why gerontology matters, inspiring them to explore a field they may not have previously considered at a time when demand for aging-related professionals continues to grow.

"One of the things that makes BoRin such a valuable member of the gerontology community is her commitment to growing the field,” Corazzini says. “She produces impactful research, but she also invests deeply in students, helping them understand the importance of aging studies and encouraging them to become part of the solution.”

As a GSA Fellow, Kim says she hopes it will provide a larger platform to advocate for older adults, connect research findings with community needs, and continue mentoring the next generation of gerontologists.

"I always tell my students that gerontology is not about somebody else's story. Everybody is aging. It's an experience we all share,” Kim says. “Aging is also a blessing because not everyone has the opportunity to grow older. That's why we should all be thinking about what aging means for ourselves.”

Kim is one of 22 honorees in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Section and one of 50 Fellows named by the society in 2026. She will be formally recognized during the GSA 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, Nov. 4–7, in National Harbor, Maryland.