Phone: 850-644-8829

Areas of Interest: Aging and mental health, Social isolation and loneliness among older adults, Social and psychological well-being of diverse older adults, Social network analysis, Mixed-methods research

Bio: Qiuchang (Katy) Cao, Ph.D., MSW, LSW, is an assistant professor at the College of Social Work whose scholarship centers around the social participation and psychological well-being of culturally and linguistically diverse older adults. Katy earned her Ph.D. in social work with a specialization in aging from the Ohio State University College of Social Work (OSUCSW). Her dissertation “Social Networks of Diverse Older Volunteers” utilized mixed-methods social network analysis to understand the relationship between volunteering, social network, and loneliness among diverse low-income older volunteers (e.g., Cambodians, Somalis, and Bhutanese) in a federal volunteering program in Ohio. Her study has implications for future loneliness and social network interventions. She has been a research associate at the Age-Friendly Innovation Center at OSUCSW and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all older adults.