Creative Longevity and Wisdom Initiative Founder
Valerie Malhotra Bentz, PhD

Recent Award Recipients
Harry "Rick" Moody
Dr. Frank Jankovitz

About The Creative Longevity and Wisdom Initiative
The Creative Longevity and Wisdom Initiative supports research and professional practice to initiate, develop, and sustain creativity and wisdom development among the aging. As a graduate university with a focus on mid-career and older scholar-practitioners, Fielding Graduate University is uniquely situated to foster research and practice towards what George Vaillant, recipient of the 2005 Outstanding Scholar Award in Creative Longevity and Wisdom, calls “Aging Well.”

One of the major human development trends identified in conjunction with Fielding’s research to define the next 25 years for our University is the changing age demographics towards a longer life span around the globe. What knowledge will help our organizations, individuals, and society respond to 25 to 30 additional years of healthy aging?

With this imperative in mind, The Creative Longevity and Wisdom Initiative was founded in 2004 at Fielding with a grant from Mr. Frank Jankovitz (read more about our initial benefactor) who devotes his own lifework to the promotion of the arts among the elderly.

1. Support of student doctoral and alumni post-doctoral fellowships, practicum and internships in creative longevity and wisdom studies
2. Development of a certificate and/or doctoral or master’s programs in creative longevity and wisdom studies
3. Sponsorship of an annual lecture at Fielding national sessions and awards to outstanding contributors in the field from outside of our community
4. Development of special programs and projects in creative longevity and wisdom
5. Development of a program of publications, exhibits, performances and presentations of all results from creative longevity and wisdom studies projects

Students and alumni may wish to check out current discussions and review program meeting minutes on the Fielding FELIX Forum SIG: Creative Longevity and Wisdom Initiative.