The Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity is an initiative from San Diego State University’s Social Policy Institute (SPI) and School of Social Work.
Older adults are the fastest growing segment of our population. We are developing solutions to meet the changing needs of a rapidly aging and diverse society.
What We Do
As an integral part of SDSU’s College of Health and Human Services, CEAL’s mission is to bridge academia with government, business, and community to meet the current and emerging challenges of healthy aging across the lifespan. With a multidisciplinary approach, CEAL promotes longevity, fosters innovative workforce partnerships, advances age-friendly initiatives, advocates for equitable access to resources and supports, and spearheads the Regional Aging Research Network.
CEAL exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing social challenges and highlights the importance of integrating research, education, and practice to create meaningful impact. By connecting academia with community, CEAL transforms ideas into actions and promotes solutions that support healthy aging. Through ongoing education, training, and advocacy, CEAL ensures that their initiatives address existing issues and prepare for future challenges in the realm of healthy aging.
Focus Areas
Who We Are
Our core staff bring expertise in aging, social justice, collaboration with diverse community voices, caregiving, advocacy, policy, community-based services, program design and implementation, and research and evaluation.
Steve Hornberger, Co-Director
Steve Hornberger, MSW has more than 30 years of senior-level leadership in human services, community building and technical assistance. He is a strong advocate for family, peer to peer and community involvement to increase equity and has been successful engaging and sustaining collaboration among federal, state and local stakeholders. Currently, Steve is the Director of the San Diego State University Social Policy Institute and Co-Director of SDSU Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity. Steve serves on numerous Boards and Advisory Councils, teaches MSW classes and leads the SDSU Board Fellows program. He was elected a NASW Pioneer in 2008 for “innovation and impact” in his career.
Jong Won Min, Co-Director
Dr. Jong Won Min is Co-Director of the Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity. He also serves as Director of the SDSU School of Social Work and is a John A. Hartford Faculty Scholar. His areas of research include health inequalities, racial disparity in health, minority aging, long-term care, and cultural diversity. Dr. Min is also a steering committee member for the Live Well Center for Innovation & Leadership, a collaboration between SDSU and the County of San Diego to strengthen the linkage between health and human services practice and its academic base.
Michelle Matter, Director of Aging
Michelle Matter has over 25 years of experience across state government, higher education, and the nonprofit sector, with a focus on aging. She earned her Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California, where her dissertation explored the benefits of senior nutrition programs as a cost-saving measure for Medicare. Michelle also holds a MA in Gerontology and an MBA with healthcare specialization. As an American Society on Aging RISE Fellow, Michelle concentrated on diversity in aging, advocacy, and social justice. She currently serves as a Board Member for the California Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports and was recently appointed to the City of San Diego Senior Affairs Advisory Board.
Fernando Reyes, Manager of Workforce Development
Fernando Reyes began his career with the State of California, where he spent 18 years developing expertise in policy analysis, program development, and stakeholder engagement. After earning his MBA, he transitioned to the non-profit sector, driven by a strong commitment to improving life outcomes in under-resourced communities. As Manager of Workforce Development, Fernando oversees programs for caregiver training and peer support, serving both paid and family caregivers, as well as individuals pursuing careers in direct care. His approach integrates economic stability, housing, and support services to effectively address the practical needs of those he serves.
Jocelyn Protopappas, Manager of Special Projects
With over a decade of experience as a registered dietician, Jocelyn Protopappas brings a wealth of clinical and practical expertise in wellness and health promotion to her role. Her career encompasses direct patient care, research, community needs assessment, program development and implementation, and advocacy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in clinical dietetics and a dual master’s degree in public health and social work, with an emphasis on community development and health management. Jocelyn is deeply committed to health equity and food justice, and is dedicated to advancing impactful community health initiatives.
Staff of the Social Policy Institute were instrumental in crafting the initial concept of CEAL. The team continues to bring innovation to the field through policy building, program coordination and research evaluation.