Barbara Gordon honored with Jane Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award

Trager Institute leader recognized for more than four decades of advancing the well-being of older adults

Barbara Gordon, director of community engagement at the University of Louisville Trager Institute Republic Bank Foundation Optimal Aging Clinic and instructor at the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, has received the Jane Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award from the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging (SE4A).

One of SE4A's most longstanding and prestigious honors, the award recognizes an individual or organization whose outstanding contributions promote the safety, welfare, and well-being of older adults throughout the Southeast. 

Gordon's career spans more than four decades of leadership in aging, mental health, social services, public policy, research and education. Her experience began in Cleveland, Ohio, working with people with developmental and intellectual disabilities at the Cleveland Development Center. In Kentucky she served as a case manager for the state’s Homecare Program for several years in the Barren River Region and later worked at the region’s Community Mental Health Center serving vulnerable populations and older adults. She served as the executive director of the Franklin County Council on Aging, in leadership within Kentucky's Department for Behavioral Health and the Office of Aging Services, and 17 years as director of social services at the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA), where she oversaw aging and disability services across Louisville Metro and six surrounding counties.

Since joining the Trager Institute in 2020, Gordon has used this extensive experience to strengthen partnerships among universities, health care providers, area agencies on aging and community organizations. Her work supports innovative approaches to age- and dementia-friendly care, evidence-based health promotion, social connectedness, and workforce development, with particular attention to rural and underserved communities.

Gordon has also contributed to published research on integrated care, healthy aging, health equity and interventions addressing loneliness among older adults. Through her teaching at the Kent School of Social Work, she helps prepare future professionals to understand and respond to the complex needs of all populations across the lifespan.

Her previous honors include the 2021 USAging President's Award and the 2022 SE4A Lifetime Membership Award.

“Receiving the Jane Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award is deeply meaningful to me because it represents work that has never been mine alone. It reflects the voices of older adults, caregivers, students, colleagues and community partners who continually remind me that meaningful change happens when we listen, build relationships and work together, I am humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Gordon.

“I believe community engagement is not simply about bringing resources into a community—it is about recognizing the wisdom, strengths and lived experiences already there and creating opportunities for people to help shape the solutions that affect their lives. My vision is for every older adult, regardless of where they live or the challenges they face, to have the opportunity to age with dignity, purpose, connection and a genuine sense of belonging.”

“Barbara exemplifies the very heart of our mission at the Trager Institute—transforming the experience of aging through meaningful partnerships, innovative approaches and a deep commitment to the people and communities we serve,” said Dr. Anna Faul, executive director of the Trager Institute.

“Her ability to bridge research, clinical practice, education and community engagement has helped translate our work into real-world opportunities for older adults and their families. Her leadership reflects a lifelong commitment to ensuring that older adults are valued, supported, and empowered to flourish.”

Gordon's recognition with the Jane Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award reflects a career dedicated not only to improving services for older adults, but also to strengthening the relationships, partnerships, and communities that make optimal aging possible.