Tochukwu (TC) is a first year Ph.D. student in Human Development and Family Sciences, specializing in Adulthood, Aging, and Gerontology. His academic advisor is Dr. Candi Nwakasi. TC earned his Master’s degree in gerontology from Miami University in Ohio and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in social work from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. TC’s academic journey reflects a commitment to aging, and family caregiving, particularly in underserved communities such as in rural places where resources for aging adults are limited.

Primarily, TC’s interest in gerontology stems from his relationship with his grandma. As a young child who spent most of his summer holidays with his maternal grandma in the village, he became fascinated by his grandma’s resilience even though she was/and is still living with a chronic disease. With time, TC became concerned about his grandma’s wellbeing given the lack of formal infrastructure to support her aging experience, and he quickly realized that his grandma was not alone. In fact, her experience was common among older adults in Nigeria, especially in rural settings. Therefore, TC became invested in understanding aging issues in Nigeria and beyond. Secondarily, TC owes his commitment to gerontology as an academic field to his professors from his undergraduate education, and mentors who have contributed to his career growth in the field of gerontology.

TC loves to be actively involved in community service whenever he can. He served as Community Integration Officer (CIO) for the Nigerian Students’ Association at Miami University. He is also a member of Dibịa Akwụkwọ: Social Solutions Research Group (SSRG), a group of young emerging scholars who engage in supervised research. TC loves football (soccer) and is an ardent “Red Devil” (Manchester United fan).

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