Legacy Project
A legacy project is a tangible and enduring representation of a person/group’s values, experiences, and wisdom. It allows individuals to leave behind a meaningful imprint fostering connections between generations and providing a source of comfort and inspiration for those who follow. As Geropsychologists we believe in the power of leaving a legacy. CoPGTP is creating a legacy project consisting of interviews of some of our Geropsychology pioneers. We hope you will listen, watch, or read these interviews and engage with us and one another to form connections and build networks to continue their work.
Sara H. Qualls, Ph.D., ABPP
Professor Emerita in Psychology at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
Dr. Qualls earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Middle Tennessee State University, a Master’s of Science and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University. She joined the faculty at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS) in 1984. She is board certified in Geropsychology. In addition to teaching, she maintained a research lab and provided clinical and consultative services both inside and outside the university’s Aging Center. She maintains a part-time private practice of therapy services to later life individuals and families. Dr. Qualls has published many papers and received many honors and awards for her work in the field. Dr. Qualls is passionate about passing along her wisdom to the next generation of geropsychologists, and we thoroughly enjoyed spending an hour gathering bits of wisdom to pass along to you. Please feel free to ask questions/make comments to squalls@uccs.edu.
Listen to the interview here:
Barry A. Edelstein, Ph.D.
Eberly Family Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology – West Virginia University
Dr. Edelstein earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology (perception, psychophysics, cognitive psychology) at the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Ph.D. degree in Clinical and Experimental Psychology (experimental analysis of behavior) from the University of Memphis. He joined the faculty at West Virginia University in 1974. In addition to teaching undergraduate (Assessment and Introduction to Clinical Psychology) and graduate courses (Behavioral and Psychological Assessment), he provides consultation and clinical services to Hopemont Hospital, a long-term care facility, where he also supervises undergraduate and graduate students. His research and scholarly interests have varied over the years, largely following the interests of his graduate students. In the past several years he has focused on older adult anxiety, older adult decision making (competence and end of life), and caregiver burden in the sandwich generation. Dr. Edelstein is one of the co-founders of the APA Division 12, Section 2 (Society of Clinical Geropsychology). Please direct questions to barry.edelstein@mail.wvu.edu.
Listen to the interview here:
Rebecca S. Allen, Ph.D., ABPP
Professor and Executive Director of the Alabama Research Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama
- Received her Ph.D. in 1994 from Washington University in St. Louis as a First-Generation Scholar
- Postdoctoral training in Gerontology from The Pennsylvania State University
- Currently Professor and Executive Director of the Alabama Research Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 (started at UA in 1999; previously at The University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- President of Division 20 (Adult Development and Aging) of the American Psychological Association
- 2023 to 2025 Member of the American Psychological Association Committee on Aging
- Board certified in Geropsychology since 2014 (second woman boarded)
- Primary interests are: 1) the dynamics of healthcare and financial decision making, 2) interventions to reduce stress among individuals with advanced chronic and terminal illness and their care partners, and 3) clinical training (substance and opioid use disorders; empowering communities through community-based partnerships).
- I am currently leading a HRSA-funded Graduate Psychology Education grant to address substance and opioid prevention, assessment, and treatment in rural AL (2D40HP33364).
- Awards:
2026 Society of Clinical Geropsychology M. Powell Lawton Award
2026 Lifetime Achievement Award for Undergraduate Alumnae, The University of Kentucky Department of Psychology
2022 APA Division 20 Mentorship Award
2014 Society of Clinical Geropsychology Clinical Mentorship Award
Listen to the interview here: