Cal J. Halvorsen, a gerontological social work scholar and associate professor at Washington University’s Brown School, will step into a new leadership role this summer as co-director of the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging.
Beginning in July, Halvorsen will share leadership of the center with Brian Carpenter, a professor of psychological and brain in Arts & Sciences. He succeeds Nancy Morrow-Howell, the Betty Bofinger Brown Distinguished Professor of Social Policy at the Brown School, who is stepping back after more than a decade as co-director. Morrow-Howell will remain involved as a senior adviser.
Halvorsen will also serve as assistant dean for faculty affairs at the Brown School beginning July 1.
Dorian Traube, the Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School, said the leadership change reflects a long-planned succession designed to sustain the center’s work while broadening its reach.
“The new leadership team has a great vision for the future, and I am delighted to endorse a succession plan long in the works, which will preserve the center’s momentum while bringing in new perspectives,” Traube said. “I have known Cal since he was a doctoral student and I have full confidence in his leadership.”
The transition was announced April 16 during the center’s 25th annual Friedman Lecture & Awards at Emerson Auditorium in Knight Hall.
Traube described the Friedman Center as a longstanding hub for interdisciplinary aging education, research, and community engagement at WashU.
“Ever since its founding, it has served as the nexus of aging research here at WashU and created a natural focal point for our community connections,” she said. “The center brings together faculty, staff, students and community members, bridging all schools, departments and programs in service to the university as well as the region and beyond.”
The Friedman Center was founded in 1998 by Chancellor Emeritus Mark S. Wrighton. It was renamed in 2007 in recognition of Harvey and Dorismae Friedman’s support for cross-disciplinary aging research. Morrow-Howell became director in 2012, with Carpenter joining as co-director in 2023. The center moved to the Brown School in 2025.
Traube also praised Morrow-Howell’s long tenure, calling her leadership central to the center’s growth and influence.
“Of all the lions of my field, whose articles I read when I was training as a social worker, I am particularly delighted to have worked alongside Nancy since I joined the Brown School in 2023,” she said. “I have always admired Nancy’s scholarship and in my time here I’ve come to cherish her guidance and her friendship. She is truly the best of people, and I would like to thank you for your stewardship for the Center for Aging and bringing it to the Brown School for its next era.”
Morrow-Howell, in turn described her 14 years at the helm as “a joy and a privilege,” adding that she leaves with mixed emotions.
“I have no words to fully express the gratitude I have,” she said. “I am grateful, but I’m also sad. But you know what, it is such a privilege to be sad about leaving a position you love and also be excited about the new leader and its future. I think it doesn’t get any better than that in a career.”
Halvorsen delivered the event’s keynote address, titled “The Longevity Opportunity: Reimagining Work, Purpose and Connection in a Multigenerational Society.” He joined the Brown School faculty in the 2024–25 academic year after previously earning both his MSW and PhD from the school. Before earning his PhD, he was the director of research and evaluation at the nonprofit think tank and program incubator, Encore.org (now called CoGenerate), and before rejoining the Brown School, he was an assistant professor for six years at Boston College.
Introduced by Morrow-Howell, Halvorsen was described as a standout scholar and collaborator since his earliest days in the MSW program at the Brown School.
“He presented himself to me in the summer before he started the program in 2006. He’s always ahead of the game. He worked for me on several projects throughout his master’s program and I figured out right away that this is one talented guy, the full package,” Morrow-Howell said. “He is smart. He is skilled in writing and speaking. He’s caring toward colleagues. Solid integrity and concern about the community and fun.”
Halvorsen’s research focuses on aging societies, work and purpose in later life, and intergenerational engagement, including studies of self-employment among older adults, job training, volunteering, and community-based initiatives. His research has been funded by public, private, and international sources, including the National Institutes of Health, Social Security Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, AARP, and the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare.