Dr. Jodi Southerland is an Assistant Professor in Community and Behavioral Health at East Tennessee State University and Coordinator of the Aging Studies and Public Health Graduate Certificate. Trained in public health and gerontology, her work focuses on healthy aging, with an emphasis on disseminating evidence-based solutions for older adults and caregivers in rural and low-resource settings. She co-leads initiatives in the Center for Aging and Intergenerational Care, advancing interdisciplinary research, education, and practice to support aging populations and their families. Dr. Southerland also serves as Chair of the Tennessee Public Health Association’s Aging Section and is TDDA Lifelong Tennessee Steering Committee member, where she chairs the Social Isolation Workgroup. Drawing on her experience as a family caregiver, she advocates for stronger services and supports for rural older adults and those who care for them.