he University of Wisconsin Institute on Aging was founded in 1973 as the Faye McBeath Institute on Aging and Adult Life. Its establishment stemmed from the growing interest in aging among campus scholars and the Faye McBeath Foundation's willingness to support an interdisciplinary gerontology center in Wisconsin. Between 1973 and 1980, the Institute developed programs in community service as well as graduate training and research under the leadership of Professor Martin Loeb of the School of Social Work. Administratively, the Institute was located within the Graduate School of the Madison campus.

When Professor Loeb retired as Director of the Institute in 1980, Professor David Featherman of the Department of Sociology was named Director. Under his leadership there was steady growth and productivity in the research mission of the Institute, particularly in the social sciences. Dr. Featherman also created an Executive Committee to guide activities of the Institute. This Committee developed four multidisciplinary research clusters that were conceived as frontiers of aging: biology of aging, clinical geriatrics, life-span development, and social gerontology. The first two represented basic and applied research in the biomedical sciences, while the latter two reflected social behavioral perspectives on basic and applied research.

In 1989, after Dr. Featherman's departure from the University, Professor William Ershler from the Department of Medicine became Director of the Institute. Dr. Ershler was also Head of the Section of Geriatrics in the Department of Medicine and Director of the VA Geriatrics, Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC). With the new leadership, the Institute was expanded to include support from the Medical School, which joined with the Graduate School to provide support and oversee the direction and activities of the Institute.

Biomedical research and clinical activities of the Institute were significantly expanded under Dr. Ershler's direction, although growth in the social and behavioral sciences continued as well. Dr. Ershler appointed a multidisciplinary Steering Committee to serve as the executive body overseeing the activities and programs of the Institute. Dr. Ershler also created the Institute on Aging Advisory Board, comprised of leaders within the University and the community, to provide counsel to the Institute and help it build a solid financial foundation from which to achieve its mission.

In expanding the administrative structure of the Institute, Dr. Ershler named four Associate Directors: Dr. Michael Hunt was appointed to oversee the educational programs of the Institute; Dr. Carol Ryff was appointed to advance social behavioral research programs; Dr. Richard Weindruch was appointed to advance biomedical research initiatives; and Mr. James Sykes was appointed to promote community outreach.

Dr. Carol Ryff, Professor of Psychology, served as Interim Director of the Institute from 1995 to 1998. In 1998, she was named Director. Under her leadership and with the involvement of an Associate Director from the biomedical sciences and the Steering Committee, the Institute on Aging continues to pursue its research, educational, and practice objectives. These objectives parallel those of the Wisconsin Idea, promoting better living for the community and society through partnerships between the University of Wisconsin System and the state.