Members

WISER Lab Director

Li-Mei is a passionate researcher, educator, and advocate dedicated to reimagining aging through evidence-based solutions and community engagement. With a PhD in Social Work from Columbia University, Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College, she has spent her career exploring how aging, health, and relational engagement intersect—always with the goal of making life better for older adults.

A professor by day and a visionary by heart, Li-Mei’s work bridges research and real-world impact, from investigating the effects of relational engagement on mental health, dementia, social isolation, and loneliness in later-life to pioneering innovative training programs for nursing home staff.

When she’s not diving into data or mentoring the next generation of changemakers, you might find her enjoying a cup of hot matcha, being a mom to her son Rintaro, exploring new ideas with her colleagues, or planning her next big initiative to improve the lives of older adults. Through WiSER, her latest endeavor, she’s committed to ensuring that research doesn’t just sit in journals but creates tangible, lasting change in communities.

Hello! My name is Gabrielle Okello and I am currently an undergraduate research assistant in George Mason University’s Social Work department. Additionally, I am a second semester junior pursuing a Global Affairs major and Public Health minor. I worked three years as a seasonal assistant teacher in the Memphis Mid-South area at the YMCA Lakeland Early Learning Center. After completing my bachelors program, I plan to pursue a masters in Public Health focusing on further developing the skills learned in my coursework and assistant research position. My current areas of interest are perinatal health, pediatric health, non-communicable diseases, substance abuse awareness, and access to health literacy.