Scott Wright, PhD

Contact Information:

• Mailing Address:
• University of Utah
• College of Nursing
• 10 South 2000 East
• Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5880
• Phone: (801) 585-9542
• FAX: (801) 581-4642
• E-mail: scott.wright@nurs.utah.edu

Background:

Scott D. Wright, Ph.D., has a background in human development and life course theories. He is area of emphasis is in adult development and aging, and retirement "hot spots" in the United States, particularly the intermountain west. At the University of Utah, he teaches several gerontology courses with an emphasis on distance learning. He has recently developed a complete web-based curriculum, which will count toward a certificate in gerontology. He is a member of the Gerontological Society of America and the Utah Gerontological Society (UGS) of America. He has served as President of the Society for Human Ecology and served as Editor of the journal Human Ecology Review. He is currently editor of the Intermountain Aging Review, a journal publication of the UGS. He is also currently Coordinator of Graduate Studies in the Gerontology Center.

Research Program/ Scholarly Activity:

Dr. Wright's area of research expertise is in investigating and understanding the retirement migration patterns of older adults and the subsequent economic and environmental impact of local communities (also known as retirement "hot spots"). His focus is primarily on retirement hot spots in the intermountain west (or the "New West") and is currently conducting research on environmental attitudes and awareness of retirees by residency status (e.g., native, long-term resident, short-term, newly arrived, seasonal).

Funded Research:

• 2/03-7/04 $5,780 PI: "Environmental Hazards and Socially Vulnerable Older Adults: Identifying Place-based Risk Using GIS Spatial Mapping and Analysis," University Research Committee
• 2001-02 $2,000 PI: "Personal and Contextual Influences on Hoarding Behaviors in Older Adults: Toward an Intervention Model," College of Nursing Research Committee
• 2000-01  PI: "The Development of an Online Certificate in Gerontology," University of Utah Technology Assisted Curriculum (TAC) Center
• 000  PI: "Toward a Web-based Online Certificate in Gerontology," Incentive Funds for New Student Enrollment, Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Utah
• 2000  PI: "The Influence of Residency Status on Environmental Attitudes and Concerns Among Older Adults in Utah Retirement Hot Spots," University Faculty Research Grant, University Research Committee
• 1999  PI: Summer Salary Support for Research Project, ARetirement Hot Spots in Utah: Environmental Attitudes and Awareness of Migrant and Long-term Older Adult Residents,@ College of Nursing
• 1997  PI: AUtah Sourcebook on Aging,@ Margolis Foundation, Salt Lake City, UT

Recent Publications:

1. Books (or chapters in books)

• Wright, S. (1998). Utah sourcebook on aging. Salt Lake City, UT: Empire Publishing.

2. Journal Publications

• Wright, S. D., Caserta, M. S., & Lund, D. A. (in press). Older adult's attitudes, concerns, and support for environmental issues in the "new West." International Journal of Aging and Human Development
• Murakami, J., Lund, D. A., Wright, S. D., & Stephenson, M. (2003). Service-learning in gerontology: A coordinated curriculum model. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 23(1), 1-24.
• Wright, S., & Lund, D. (2000). Gray and green? Stewardship and sustainability in an aging society. Journal of Aging Studies, 14(3).
• Wright, S. (1999). The FANBY dynamic: The potential and future of retirement hot spots in the West. Sustainable Communities Review, 3(1), 6-11.
• Wright, S. (1998). The America's west: Sustainable communities at the crossroads. Sustainable Communities Review, 2(2), 33-36.
• Wright, S., Drost, M., Caserta, M., & Lund, D. (1998). Older adults knowledge of HIV/AIDS: Implications for educators. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, 18(4), 3-21.

Recent Presentations:

• 12/02  "Environmental Hazards and Older Persons: Identifying Placed-based Risk Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Spatial Mapping and Analysis," Differential Susceptibility of Older Persons to Environmental Hazards Workshop, National Academy of Science, Washington, DC
• 11/02  "Older Adults Attitudes, Concerns, and Support for Environmental Issues," Gerontological Society of America 2002 Annual Meeting, Boston, MA
• 4/02  "On-Line and On-Target: The Clicks and Bricks of a Web-Based Curriculum," 2002 Joint Conference of the National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging, Denver, CO
• 11/01  "Placing an Entire Program Online," Teaching Rendezvous on Instruction Technology, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
• 11/99  Gray and Green? Environmentalism, Stewardship, and Sustainability in an Aging Society,@ The Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA
• 5/99  In Search of Arcadia: Environmental Impact of Retirement Hot Spots, @ Society for Human Ecology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
• 4/99  Employed and Nonemployed Caregivers: The Usage of Respite Time@ (with B. Rigby, D. Lund, & M. Caserta), Pacific Sociological Association, Portland, OR
• 11/98  The Environmental and Economic Impact of Retirement Hot Spots, @ The Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA
• 11/98  The Sandwich Generation,@ Governor's Conference on Families, Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT

Editorial and Review Boards:

• Sustainable Communities Review, 1998-present
• Human Ecology Review, 1994-present

Areas of Teaching Responsibilities:

• GERON 3001: The Experience of Aging, a General Education integration course that examines a variety of issues in aging with an emphasis on how aging is integrated in an interdisciplinary approach.
• GERON 2050: Aging-Concepts and Controversies, a General Education foundation course that focuses on critical discussion of topical areas relating the life course, health and health care, and public policy (economics and politics).
• GERON 3050: Aging: Self-Family-Society, a telecourse using the "Growing Old in a New Age video series.

Recent Awards:

• President, Society for Human Ecology, 10/97-1/99
• College of Social and Behavioral Science Award for publication of Human Ecology Review Journal (Co-Editor), 1994