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 is Director of Aging for the Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity. She brings more than 25 years of experience working in state government, higher education, and the nonprofit aging sector. Michelle has a doctorate in organizational change and leadership and her dissertation is a promising practice study examining the benefits of senior nutrition programs as a cost savings to Medicare. As a lifelong learner, Michelle has an MBA with healthcare specialization and a master’s degree in gerontology. She was also an ASA RISE Fellow focusing on diversity in aging, advocacy, social justice, and leadership development.
Brenda Bothel-Hammond, Manager of Age-Friendly Communities
Brenda Bothel-Hammond has dedicated the past 25 years to supporting older adults’ ability to age with dignity in San Diego County. She has created and supervised award-winning services which have been replicated throughout the nation. Most recently, she has spearheaded the Age-Friendly Communities initiatives, working with various municipalities in San Diego County.
Fernando Reyes, Peer Support Advisor
Fernando Reyes, the Peer Support Advisor at the Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity, brings extensive experience and dedication to his role. With 18 years of service in the State of California, he is adept at communication and advocacy. Fernando’s passion for enhancing the quality of life in under-resourced communities led him to transition to the non-profit sector after earning his MBA. His strategic thinking and managerial skills enable him to address complex challenges effectively. His focus encompasses economic stability, housing, and caregiver support, reflecting his holistic approach to community well-being.
Emily Allison, Graduate Assistant
Emily is a Graduate Assistant with the Social Policy Institute (SPI) and supports CEAL on multiple strategic initiatives. She has a demonstrated history leading and managing projects, providing coordinated administrative support to executive staff, and offering strategic consulting services to various health and human service organizations and key stakeholders in San Diego County. Emily has a master’s degree in social work and public health and provides a unique and adaptable skill set to the field with both her clinical and hospital administration experience.
Jocelyn Smith, Graduate Assistant
Jocelyn is in her third year as a graduate student pursuing a dual MSW/MPH at San Diego State University. She is a proud University of Pittsburgh alumni, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics in 2013, and launched her career as a Registered Dietitian. She is a fierce advocate for food justice, food insecurity, and equitable, accessible healthcare. Her career over the past decade has been peppered with opportunities to engage in direct patient care, research, community needs assessment, program development and implementation, and advocacy. As a dual MSW and MPH major, she is excited to be merging the social justice frameworks and tenants of social work with macro perspectives in public health to more fully understand the systems in which we grow, live, and work. She is currently conducting research on the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals about older adults and sexual health needs.
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.