The UGA College of Public Health is excited to announce that Jenay Beer has received the 2025 Engaged Scholar Award for the University of Georgia.

This prestigious award recognizes tenured faculty members for their contributions to advancing public service, outreach and community engagement.

“Dr. Beer’s impact can be seen both on and off of our campus,” said Dean Marsha Davis. “Through her role as associate director of the Institute of Gerontology and co-director of the Cognitive Aging Research and Education Center, she improves the lives of our students and guides them to success, while also developing new means for assisting individuals in our community.”

As an engineering psychologist, Beer’s research focuses on how individuals interact with health care technology, and she has dedicated her career to developing and evaluating technology interventions for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. This work spans mobile apps, robotics, telehealth, smart homes and more.

The ability to impact not only the body of knowledge around dementia care, but also the lives of individuals, is something that stands out to Dr. Beer.

“It is one thing to do meaningful research; it is a whole different thing to apply that meaningful research to people’s lives. Translational research absolutely must be interdisciplinary, and UGA is a unique environment that breaks down silos and encourages collaboration,” said Beer.

The UGA Engaged Scholar Award celebrates Dr. Beer’s unwavering commitment to integrating research, education, and community service. Her work not only advances academic knowledge but also delivers tangible benefits to the community, exemplifying the profound impact of engaged scholarship.