Marymount University’s Dr. Shelly Aboagye, a rising star in the School of Counseling and the Center for Optimal Aging, has been selected for the prestigious 2024 Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Fellowship Program.
This highly competitive fellowship from the National Institute on Aging’s Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research is awarded to only five nationwide scholars specializing in mental health and aging. The year-long opportunity will allow her to conduct research, participate in training seminars and present findings at national conferences.
Dr. Aboagye joined Marymount in 2021 as a Professor of Practice in the School of Counseling and was later chosen as a fellow in the University’s Center for Optimal Aging. Her research, centered on the intersection of spirituality, public health and aging, aims to enhance well-being through preventative care. Her work spans critical areas like nutrition, falls prevention and the policy implications of healthy aging on a global scale.
“This Minority Serving Institution fellowship offers an incredible opportunity to deepen my research and impact the field,” Dr. Aboagye reflected. “It’s a major step towards my goal of advancing the understanding of mental health issues affecting diverse aging populations.”
She is currently working on several impactful projects, including a National Institutes of Health grant that aims to examine mental health issues among former football players over 50 years old who have a history of traumatic brain injuries. She’s also conducting a systematic review on the link between falls and mental health in elderly populations and is working to publish her dissertation on family cohesion, social support and resilience among international students.
Additionally, she serves as President of the Mediterranean Region Counselor Association and provides clinical consultations at Ryan Rehabilitation.
“This is just the beginning for Dr. Aboagye,” said Dr. Patricia Heyn, Director of Marymount’s Center for Optimal Aging. “I see her growing rapidly as a scientist and contributing not only to the Center’s research but to the gerontological research field as a whole.”
After completing her master’s degree at Bowie State University, Dr. Aboagye’s mentor encouraged her to consider a doctoral program. Marymount’s Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision stood out for its supportive environment, and she says earning her doctorate as a first-generation college student is one of her proudest accomplishments. Now, inspired by mentors like Dr. Lisa Jackson-Cherry, Dr. Bill Sterner and Dr. Tammy Davis, she actively guides the next generation of counselors while instilling the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“As a counselor educator, she impacts the lives of students under her clinical training, who in turn will impact clients suffering from mental health issues,” Dr. Jackson-Cherry said. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Aboagye, a professional leader, on our faculty team.”
Before joining Marymount, Dr. Aboagye served as an educational counselor at the Educational Opportunity Center, helping adult learners and first-generation college students achieve their academic and professional goals.
