Dr. Anita Sharma donor of the Aspiring Gerontologist Education (AGE) Scholarship

Dr. Anita Sharma, the ULM holder of the Joseph A. Biedenharn Eminent Scholars Endowed Chair in Gerontology, is the Director of ULM’s GERO Institute (Gerontology, Education, Research, Outreach).

The GERO Institute was born out of Dr. Sharma’s personal history of working with older adults, which led to her growing understanding of the challenges of aging. Sharma has bold hopes for GERO and believes with proper support it can be not only a local, but also a state and national asset committed to meeting the needs of an aging population with integrity, dignity, and confidence.

Dr. Sharma is also an active member of several community organizations serving the needs of elderly individuals and victims of family violence.

The GERO Institute won the 2024 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics. The BBB Torch Award for Ethics celebrates businesses and nonprofits that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to ethics and integrity.