‘Internships in Aging Project’ Helps UAlbany Students Land Local Jobs in Elder Care

Four seated people smile in lively conversation. Two are using laptops, and the two others are holding a book and a notebook.

From left: Internships in Aging Project Hearst Fellow Gabbie Gorman O’Barry, IAP Director Linda Mertz, IAP intern Kaitlyn Wooley, IAP alum and Director of the Albany Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Kyra Alte. (Photo: Patrick Dodson)

By Erin Frick

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 16, 2026) — University at Albany students in the “Internships in Aging Project” (IAP) earn academic credit while gaining hands‑on work experience serving their local community. Housed in the School of Social Welfare at the College of Integrated Health Sciences, the nationally recognized program connects students with Capital Region agencies dedicated to serving older adults, where students spend three days per week and receive a stipend for their work.

School of Social Welfare and IAP alum Kyra Alte '23 directs the Albany Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NNORC) — an organization committed to helping older adults remain in their homes and communities. Alte worked at NNORC during their IAP field placement, delivering care management services and community programs.

“As a Master of Social Work student, I knew that I wanted as much field experience as I could get, so I was initially drawn to the IAP program for the additional day of field work (three days per week instead of the standard two),” said Alte, who participated in IAP with support from the Hearst Foundations. “The stipend was also critical because it allowed me to quit my other job and use that time to develop skills as a social worker. As it turned out, I loved the IAP program and my placement at NNORC — so much so that I work there now.

“IAP opened my eyes to the challenges facing the aging population and what it means to empower and advocate for older adults. It also underscored just how much this work is needed, and how few geriatric social workers and gerontologists we have.”

A young person wearing glasses and a green button down shirt sits on a sofa in a warmly lit lobby with art on the wall in the background. — Kyra Alte '23 received their Master of Social Work degree at UAlbany's School of Social Welfare and participated in the Internships in Aging Project, working as a care manager at Jewish Family Services. That internship led to Alte’s current role as Director of the Albany Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NNORC). Pictured here at the Jewish Family Services of Albany headquarters, of which NNORC is a part. (Photo by Patrick Dodson.)

Learning From Each Other

Students gain an even broader view of potential careers in older adult care through bi-weekly seminars wherein students present to each other about their field experiences. The program also offers field trips to a range of IAP sites.

For MSW student and IAP participant Kaitlyn Wooley, her role at NNORC supporting four clients as an in-home care manager is her first experience working with older adults.

“Something that I’ve really appreciated is our biweekly seminars and being able to visit other placements, get tours and be able to get a taste of the range of different social work settings,” said Wooley. “We’ve visited the VA and Eddy SeniorCare, we’ve talked about hospice care. Being able to see how diverse this population’s care needs can be has made for a well-rounded experience. Beyond the skills I’m learning in my placement, I’ll leave with broad knowledge of the many ways social workers can support older adults.”

A young woman wearing a brown sweater smiles, arms folded, in the doorway to a warmly lit office — Master of Social Work student Kaitlyn Wooley is currently working as a care manager for the Albany Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community as part of the Internships in Aging program, under the mentorship of UAlbany alum Kyra Alte. Pictured here at the Jewish Family Services of Albany headquarters. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

Standing Together for Social Justice

Master of Social Work student and current IAP Hearst Fellow Gabbie Gorman O’Barry was drawn to geriatric care through an early awareness of social justice and past experience working at a nursing home serving nuns.

As a care management intern at Jewish Family Services of Northeastern NY, the umbrella organization that houses NNORC, she serves 12 clients across three counties, assisting them with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) applications, technology support, mail and bill organization, and providing supportive counseling. She also delivers Meals on Wheels throughout Saratoga County.

“The IAP program is such a good challenge,” said Gorman O’Barry. “I wear a lot of hats with a lot of responsibility. I’m getting unparalleled training in skills like time management, boundary setting and self-care, which are all essential to sustaining a career as a social worker. I also feel deeply supported by the program and know there’s a strong professional network throughout the region, which I hope to tap into after graduating in May.”

A young woman with rainbow hair smiles for a portrait while seated at a desk. Signs on the wall say "food security" and "benefits & advocacy". — Master of Social Work student and current IAP intern Gabbie Gorman O’Barry is working as a care manager at Jewish Family Services. Her IAP stipend is supported by the Hearst Foundations, a longtime Internships in Aging Project funder, which just committed an additional $2 million to the program. (Photo by Patrick Dodson).

Over nearly three decades, this tight professional community has become a hallmark of the IAP program.

“I am still in touch with many people from my cohort,” said Alte. “I call them when I need guidance on a complicated case or help identifying local resources. We stay connected about the different programs we can direct clients to. When you graduate and stay in the area, you know agencies, field instructors, and have a network. It brings a collaborative spirit to the field. We come together because we want to serve older adults — because it’s a social justice issue, and because every person has the right to live and thrive.”

With a new $2 million commitment from the Hearst Foundations, the Internships in Aging Project is set to expand, supporting an additional 30 interns over the next five years and opening to Master of Public Health students.