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Wisdom and Wellness

Kathryn Reichert, CLA Public Information Office
July 21, 2025

Congratulations to UAF Psychology Department Chair and Associate Professor Jen Peterson, one of just two faculty members honored with the Spring 2025 URSA Mentor Award. The Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity (URSA) Mentor Award supports faculty and researchers who are deeply committed to guiding undergraduate students through hands-on learning and discovery. For Peterson, that dedication is woven into every aspect of her research and teaching.

It’s especially evident in her newest student-driven project, “From Adversity to Healthy Aging: Examining ACEs and Well-Being in Older Alaskans.” Working alongside psychology students Kieleigh Williams, Jenn Smyth, and Samantha Nixon, Peterson is exploring how early life adversity—such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—shapes long-term health. Their work seeks to uncover why some individuals not only cope, but thrive into older age despite early hardships.

As Peterson puts it, “by learning from these resilient individuals, we hope to uncover insights for developing intervention strategies for those now entering middle age to help support their healthy aging.”

Peterson directs the FlexCog Lab (Flexible Cognition Lab), where she and her student researchers study cognitive adaptability across the lifespan. Their work is rooted in the belief that adaptability—the ability to shift thinking and behavior as circumstances change—is critical to health and wellness in aging populations.

“Cognitive flexibility is one of those skills that allows us to adjust our thinking and behavior as circumstances shift, and it plays a critical role in healthy aging,” Peterson explained. “Adaptability is a big factor in well-being, and it is one of the main focuses in my healthy aging studies.”

That adaptability takes on a unique meaning in Interior Alaska, where many older adults live in rural or remote environments and may have limited access to health care. “Add to that the self-reliant spirit of Alaskans,” she noted, “and it becomes clear that there’s an incredible need to support healthy aging, so that people can continue living independently longer.”

In the FlexCog Lab, student involvement isn’t just encouraged, it’s essential. “Undergraduate students are involved in every part of my work; they are my research team,” she said. “I want them to understand the real-world complexities of conducting research and appreciate the importance of treating participants ethically. Most importantly, I want them to see the power of scientific evidence in understanding human behavior, evidence that is far more reliable than stereotypes or intuition.”

Peterson is currently seeking a few students to assist with projects this fall. Students interested in experiential learning opportunities with the FlexCog Lab are encouraged to reach out to her via email.

The URSA Mentor Awards are open to faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students across UAF-affiliated campuses who are engaging undergraduates in scholarly or creative work. Applications are accepted each semester via the URSA website.

Reflecting on her years of research with Alaskan elders, Peterson observed a striking trend. “The longer people live in Fairbanks, the healthier they tend to be… it does tell us that our local population of older adults is special and quite adaptable.”

Peterson’s research illuminates that adaptability—not just as an academic focus, but as a way of life in the North. Through mentorship, she is passing on this perspective to the next generation of scholars—encouraging not only their academic growth, but their understanding of resilience, curiosity, and care.