April 25, 2023

BATON ROUGE, LA - Alisha Thompson was recently announced as the recipient of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Summer Policy Internship which is only given to two doctoral students in a highly competitive pool. The prestigious internship includes a training components in Washington D.C. over the summer, and Thompson will be involved in the age-related policy development process at the national level. She will participate in congressional hearings, meet with national coalitions and federal agencies, study health effects on older people and monitor legislation and regulations.

“I am eager and honored to have the opportunity to serve and grow as a Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Summer Policy Intern this summer. I look forward to so many things during this unique experience, but most of all, I look forward to stepping outside of my comfort zone, leaning into areas of growth, fully immersing myself in and soaking up every bit of this experience, and making meaningful connections with others in the field of federal policy in aging,” said Thompson.

Since joining LSU, Thompson has earned many accolades such as the Perkins Doctoral Diversity Fellowship, Association for Gerontological Education in Social Work (AGESW) Pre-Dissertation Fellowship, and now the GSA Summer Policy Internship. Aside from her accomplishments, Thompson is extremely involved in the LSU community as she is a former mentor with the LSU Genesis program and on the UPLIFTD board of directors . She attributes her accomplishments and who she is today to the culture of excellence here at LSU, particularly how faculty and staff develop within students the passionate mindset of champions.

Thompson continued, “The support I have received here at LSU has fostered my resilience, which has strengthened my confidence to face challenges head-on with an unyielding spirit. The heart, mindset, passion, and confidence that have been elevated within me at LSU have made an indelible impact on who I am as a scholar and a person.”

“Alisha’s hard work and dedication to her academic career as well as her commitment to our LSU community has not gone unnoticed, and we could not be prouder of Thompson. Earning the GSA Summer Policy Internship is an amazing accomplishment and I know she will continue to represent LSU well in Washington D.C. this summer,” said director of the School of Social Work, Michelle Livermore.  

About SSW  
The LSU School of Social Work (SSW) aspires to be a leading school of social work, a vibrant center of intellectual development, a leader in promoting and supporting diverse communities, and an advocate for an integrated and inclusive model of social work, all within a learning environment that supports best educational practices. The SSW offers Child and Family Studies (CFS) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) undergraduate degrees, MSW, online MSW, and PhD. SSW is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education.  
Visit the School of Social Work at lsu.edu/socialwork.