彩民宝典

Research Interests听

I am a health geographer and environmental gerontologist who uses qualitative and mixed methods to investigate how built, social, and natural environments affect health, aging, and quality of mid to later life. I focus particularly on neighborhood determinants of cognitive aging and physically, socially, and intellectually active aging in place. The goal of my research is to inform upstream health promotion and policy strategies to address socio-geographic determinants of health across the life course, particularly among underserved communities.听

My early research identified salient neighborhood features (e.g., accessible housing, transportation, services, and 鈥榯hird places鈥� outside of home and work) to support racially and socioeconomically diverse aging adults. I advocated for policy to support older adults, particularly those who are unhoused, low-income, isolated, disabled, and aging in underserved and vulnerable communities. One of the greatest fears expressed by older adults in my dissertation research inspired my postdoctoral and current research: Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). I developed a new concept of Cognability and public mapping tool to capture how supportive an area is to cognitive aging through neighborhood services, amenities, and hazards. My research utilizes large national datasets including the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study and Health and Retirement Study (HRS).听

Additionally, I have co-led the COVID-19 Coping Study since March 2020. This mixed-methods study investigates physical, mental, social, and cognitive health and well-being among US adults aged 55 and older since the pandemic onset. I help develop and advance the National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA), a public mapping resource that curates national geospatial data relevant to public health over time.

Current Research听

My current research projects include:

• Aging in place since the COVID-19 pandemic onset: A study of neighborhoods and cognitive health among older Americans
• Life Course Cognability: Neighborhoods and Health at All Ages Research Study听
• COVID-19 Coping Study
• Marshall Fire Community Health Research Study
• National Neighborhood Data Archive听

More Info听

I grew up in Vancouver (Canada) and completed my Bachelor's degrees in Geography and Education at Queen's University (Canada). I pursued a Master's and PhD in Geography and Gerontology (Public Health) from the University of Minnesota. Prior to becoming an Assistant Professor at 彩民宝典, I was a NIH-funded postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (2018-2023).

When not at my desk, I'm often chasing after my two small children, running/biking/skiing in the Colorado mountains, or reading a book.

Recent Courses Taught听

• Spring 2024听 GEOG 3692听 Introduction to Global Public Health
• Fall 2023听 GEOG 3692听 Introduction to Global Public Health

Honors and Awards听

Recent Grants and Fellowships:

• 2023-2024: University of Minnesota Life Course Center for the Demography and Economics of Aging Pilot Grant (NIH/NIA P30AG066613, $36,133) Co-Primary Investigator: 鈥淧lace-Based Determinants of Cognitive Aging Across the Life Course.鈥�
• 2023-2024: University of Colorado Population Center Seed Grant (NIH/NICHD P2CHD066613, $20,000) Co-Primary Investigator: 鈥淭oxic homes? A mixed-methods study of Marshall Fire health impacts.鈥�
• 2022-2027: National Institute on Aging Pathway to Independence Award (1K99AG075152-01, $1,014,840): 鈥淎ging in Place Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset: A Study of Neighborhoods and Cognitive Health Among Older Americans.鈥�
• 2022-2027: National Institute of Nursing Research (NIH/NINR U01NR020556) Co-Investigator: 鈥淎 National Neighborhood Data Resource to Understand Inequities in the Health and Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 in the United States.鈥澨�
• 2021-2023: Michigan Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Research Center Early Career Investigator Mentorship Program (NIH/NIA P30AG072931, Berger Endowment G102865/321033, $25,000).
• 2020-2022: National Institute on Aging Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (NIH/NIA F32 AG064815-01, $131,836): 鈥淓NHANCE: Developing a Clinical Geography Tool to Intervene in Cognitive Decline through Neighborhood Design.鈥�
• 2019-2022: National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research Grant (R44AG063683-01, $1,612,024): 鈥淎 Mobile Informatics Solution to Aid in Memory鈥� Co-Investigator.
• 2019-2021: Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research Postdoctoral Translational Scholar Program Fellowship (NIH UL1 TR002240-02, $85,000).听
• 2018-2020: University of Michigan Institute for Social Research Social Environment and Health Program Postdoctoral Research Fellowship ($115,000).

Recent Honors and Awards:

• 2023: Innovative Research on Aging Silver Award
• 2023: NIH Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Science Honors: Early-Stage Investigator Paper Competition Awardee
• 2023: National Alzheimer鈥檚 Coordinating Center Rising Star Award
• 2022: Gerontological Society of America Carroll L. Estes Rising Star Award
• 2021: University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association Conference Award
• 2021: Alzheimer's Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute scholar
• 2020: University of Michigan Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award

Recent Publications听

* Indicates student mentee听

• Cannon, M., Bergman*, L., Finlay, J. 2023. COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts on Community Connections and Third Place Engagement: A Qualitative Analysis of Older Americans. Journal of Aging and Environment.
• Wu, Y.*, Esposito, M., Li, M.*, Clarke, P., Judd, S., & Finlay, J. 2023. Neighborhood 鈥楧isamenities鈥�: local barriers and cognitive function among Black and white aging adults. BMC Public Health.
• Joseph, C.*, Kobayashi, L., Frain, L., & Finlay, J. 2023. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 take any chances鈥�: A mixed-methods study of frailty, isolation, worry, and loneliness among aging adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Applied Gerontology.
• Finlay, J., Esposito, M., Langa, K., Judd, S., Clarke, P. 2022. Cognability: An Ecological Theory of Neighborhoods and Cognitive Aging. Social Science & Medicine.
• Finlay, J., Jang, J., Esposito, M., McClure, L., Judd, S., & Clarke, P. 2022. 鈥淢y neighborhood is fuzzy, not hard and fast鈥�: Individual and contextual effects on perceived neighborhood boundaries among aging Americans. Urban Studies.
• Finlay, J., Meltzer, G.*, Cannon, M., & Kobayashi, L. 2021. Aging in Place During a Pandemic: Neighborhood Engagement and Environments Since the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset. The Gerontologist. /10.1093/geront/gnab169
• Finlay, J., Yu, W.*, Clarke, P., Li, M.*, Judd, S., Esposito, M. 2021. Neighborhood cognitive amenities? A mixed-methods study of intellectually-stimulating infrastructure and cognitive function among older Americans. Wellbeing, Space & Society.
• Finlay, J., Esposito, M., Li, M.*, Zhou, H.*, Judd, S., & Clarke, P. 2021. Active Aging Infrastructure and Cognitive Health: A Mixed-Methods Study of Aging Americans. Preventive Medicine.
• Finlay, J., Esposito, M., Li, M.*, Kobayashi, L., Khan, A.*, Gomez-Lopez, I., Melendez, R., Colabianchi, N., Judd, S., & Clarke, P. 2021. Can Neighborhood Social Infrastructure Modify Cognitive Function? A Mixed-Methods Study of Urban-Dwelling Aging Americans. Journal of Aging and Health.
• Finlay, J. & Rowles, G. 2021. Clinical Geography: A Proposal to Embrace Space, Place and Wellbeing through Person-Centered Practice. Wellbeing, Space & Society.
• Finlay, J. 2020. Intimately Old: An Embodied and Emplaced Feminist Approach to Aging. Hypatia.
• Finlay, J., Esposito, M., Tang, S., Gomez-Lopez, I., Sylvers, D.*, Judd, S., Clarke, P. 2020. Fast-Food for Thought: Retail Food Environments as Resources for Cognitive Health and Wellbeing Among Aging Americans? Health & Place.
• Finlay, J. & Finn, B. 2020. Geography鈥檚 Blindspot: The Age-Old Urban Question. Urban Geography.
• Finlay, J., McCarron, H.*, Statz, T., Zmora, R.* 2019. A Critical Approach to Aging in Place: A Case Study Comparison of Personal and Professional Perspectives from the Minneapolis Metropolitan Area. Journal of Aging & Social Policy.
• Finlay, J., Esposito, M., Kim, M., Gomez-Lopez, I., Clarke, P. 2019. Closure of 鈥楾hird Places鈥�? Exploring Potential Consequences for Collective Health and Wellbeing. Health & Place.
• Finlay, J., Gaugler, J., & Kane, R. 2018. Ageing in the margins: Expectations of and struggles for 鈥榓 good place to grow old鈥� among low-income older Minnesotans. Ageing & Society. doi:10.1017/S0144686X1800123X
• Finlay, J. & Kobayashi, L. 2018. Social isolation and loneliness in later life: A parallel convergent mixed-methods case study of older adults and their residential contexts in the Minneapolis metropolitan area, USA. Social Science & Medicine.
• Finlay, J. 2018. 鈥榃alk like a penguin!鈥�: Older Minnesotans鈥� experiences of (non)therapeutic white space. Social Science & Medicine.
• Finlay, J., & Bowman, J.* 2017. Geographies on the Move: A Practical and Theoretical Approach to the Mobile Interview. The Professional Geographer.

Updated August 2023