EDRAite of the Month - David Boeck

David Boeck December 2018

David BoeckI start this brief narrative of me and my work with EDRA as a long time member, board member, program chair and most recently, chair of EDRA 49 held in Oklahoma City last summer. I have been involved in EDRA since my tenure started at the University of Oklahoma in 2003. It has been an integral part of my academic life including teaching associated research and the tenure and post tenure process, which as you all know is a rigorous, and sometimes, almost overwhelming, period of academic life that everyone in academics for the long haul goes through or has gone through.

I started my tenure research in the area of pediatric design which quickly moved into the area of aging research and aging in place. Through this pilgrimage of learning, research, and writing that is part of the tenure process, EDRA and its vast resource rich membership, was always there for inspiration and encouragement as well as support. It became the primary outlet for presenting the findings and ideas incubated in the many discussions and presentations that are EDRA.

In having the chance to take students to Zambia to look at the process of educating street and compound children and its serious link to poverty and cultural disconnect seen in the social segmentation commonly found in 3rd world cultures, EDRA has been there to be again ready forum for expanding this conversation.

Serving on the EDRA board for the last 6 years has been one of the most energizing experiences of my life. The level of academic excellence as well as personal connections I’ve had the chance to be part of have enriched my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined when this journey started. This organization is something I never keep from sharing with colleagues and associates I meet in the OU academic arena and other places I go.

Thank you EDRA for being part of my life and thank you EDRAites that have been connected to me in my journey for enriching it for the friendship I have experienced in the last 15 years and will continue to grow from in the future.