Aging & Gerontology

Biography

Professor Lowenstein is reputed as a leading national and international expert in social gerontology. She publishes extensively, having more than 250 scientific publications. She has written two Hebrew books, and is co-editor of three English books. In 2011 a book: “Generational Intelligence” with Biggs was published. She is recipient of numerous competitive research grants, prestigious scholarships, national and international awards. She is invited to present key-note lectures in international and national conferences and research networks. At the College, so far, during her first presidential term Prof. Lowenstein managed to raise large donations which contributed to expanding research centers, students' scholarships and their community projects and the development of the campus infrastructure. Two new graduate and a undergraduate programs started: in Health Services Management and in Educational Psychology and an undergraduate Dept. in Social Work. Also, two new schools were established: An Health and Welfare Sciences School and Communication, Governance and Society School. In the campus a new large Health Sciences building was built, as well as 3 new dormitory buildings. International relations were expanded – delegations from France, from Vietnam and China visited and several European Consortium meetings were held. She also established and head, with a colleague, the International Research Center on Aging and Health. The Center is interdisciplinary and conducts applied research projects, with funding from competitive foundations like Israel Science Foundation, Ministry of Science, Israel Pfizer Co., Maccabi Health Services (total funding about million and a half Israeli shekels). The Center also organizes conferences in collaboration with community services and regional municipalities, as well as international workshops. Within the Center a wide network of collaborations with top researchers and institutions in the US, Canada, Europe, Far East and Latin America were created. Prof. Lowenstein is an Honorary Fellow of Gerontological Society of America (GSA); a fellow of World Demographic Association and was member of its advisory board. European Regional Representative and board member of International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), from whom she received the Rosali Wolf Award; a board member and co-chair of an Elder Abuse team within NICE – National Initiative for Care of the Elderly, University of Toronto, Canada. Member of Management Committee representing Israel, in the EU COST Network, on Elders' Social Exclusion, and a Group Leader within the network. She served for eight years as Chair, European Behavioral, Social Science and Research Section, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics – European Region; served for five years as Chair of Israeli Gerontological Society, from whom she received a prize for Life Achievement. Till recently, board member of International Federation on Aging (IFA) and member of its nominations committee; Invited by the European Commission as an expert evaluator for research proposals Framework 7. She serves on Israeli governmental and local agencies as consultant, and policy advisor, acting for several years as National Chair, an Advisory Council to the Minister and Ministry of Senior Citizens. She received a prestigious Hazani Prize for contribution to innovation in Aging from Israeli Ministry of Social Welfare. She is Chair of a Scientific Advisory Committee to the Foundation Assisting Holocaust Survivors in Israel. She received the Honorary Citizen - City of Haifa, Israel, for her work and support to develop services for the aged in the city during the last three decades. She is Professor of Gerontology Emerita, University of Haifa, Israel. She has been a long term faculty member of the University, for almost 3 decades at the School of Social work, where she filled various academic roles. She was also active in the University at large as member of University senate, heading several of its committees. 15 years ago she developed and established the Graduate Department of Gerontology at the University and headed it for the first 5 years. In 1990 she got funding and established the Center for Research and Study of Aging and headed it till October 2011. She has a Masters of Public Administration from New York University, and a PhD in Sociology from Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

Research Interest

Social Gerontology, Intergenerational family relations, family caregiving, elder abuse, elders’ quality of life, policy development, gerontological education