The Friedman Center for Aging welcomes Project Coordinator, Michele Dinman to its staff. Read her blog below to find out more about the newest team member at the Institute for Public Health!
Hello! I am Michele Dinman, and I was recently hired as a Project Coordinator for the WashU for Life Initiative at the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging. I received my MPH, with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences, from Boston University.
At the start of my career, I was a biologist in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases in the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, and a Legislative Public Health Analyst with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, where I tracked and analyzed congressional legislation and prepared materials for congressional hearings.
For the past 12 years, before the pandemic hit, I was the National Health Coordinator at The Oasis Institute, where I created evaluation materials, analyzed health program data, and assisted in the development of programming to improve the health and wellness of older adults. Oasis is a national organization that promotes healthy aging through lifelong learning, health and wellness, and community engagement.
While at Oasis, I learned how important social engagement, intellectual stimulation, and an active lifestyle are for adults to live productive, vibrant, healthy, and meaningful lives. While planning intergenerational programming, I also realized that people of different ages can benefit from the experiences of each other. I am excited to help increase age-diversity on the Washington University campus and improve multi-generational learning environments.
At the Friedman Center for Aging, I will be helping to create an age-diverse university at WashU through the development of the Washington University for Life Initiative. The programs that I will be working with include the Your Next Move retirement transition program, age inclusive university efforts, the Next Move student group, and Gateway to Engagement. I will be developing a plan for WashU to implement a program for alumni and community members that helps with mid-life work transition and later life exploration, and programs to increase education for adults who need or want to work longer or who, after being successful in a career path, are now looking for a new direction. Additionally, it is our goal to work with external partners to develop a volunteer exploration program for WashU employees and alumni.
I grew up in Saint Louis; I am an avid Cardinals fan and am married to an avid Red Sox fan! I have two sons and I enjoy collecting rocks, fossils, and seashells, and tap dancing.