Karen Kopera-Frye, a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences in NMSU’s College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, began serving a four-year term as the editor-in-chief of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education in January.
Source: NMSU Newsroom
By Carlos Carrillo López
NMSU photo by Josh Bachman: Courtesy
The Gerontological Society of America has selected a New Mexico State University professor to serve as the editor of one of its peer-reviewed journals.
Karen Kopera-Frye, a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences in NMSU’s College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, began serving a four-year term as the editor-in-chief of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education in January. She was elected by members of the Gerontological Society of America, the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization focused on aging.
Gerontology & Geriatrics Education focuses on the exchange of information related to research, curriculum development, program evaluation, classroom and practice innovation, and other topics with educational implications for gerontology and geriatrics.
“I am honored to serve and follow some of the giants in the field of gerontology who have served in this role prior,” Kopera-Frye said. “I hope to expand the journal space for submissions from postdocs and early-career academics. I want to increase the continued excellence in the number of submissions, solicit more international submissions, expand the opportunities for brief reports, and especially solicit submissions from those working with diverse groups and interprofessional education.”
Kopera-Frye joined NMSU in 2016 as an associate dean for what is now called the College of HEST, bringing an extensive background in lifespan psychology and specialized training in gerontology. She later became a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences and helped launch undergraduate and graduate minors in gerontology.
Kopera-Frye is a longtime member of the Gerontological Society of America, where she has served as an elected officer and contributed to many working groups and task forces. She also regularly presents her research at academic conferences like the Academy of Gerontology in Higher Education, a division of GSA, and the American Psychological Association: Division 20 Adulthood and Aging.
Her current research involves health promotion and healthy aging among diverse groups, particularly Indigenous and Latinx elders. She is also an appointed reviewer for several gerontological and psychological journals and federal granting agencies, such as the Indian Health Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
“I was drawn to the field of aging as I have always been intrigued by the lived experiences of elders and the amazing world events they have lived through, witnessed and endured,” she said.
Kopera-Frye described the process of becoming the editor of Gerontology & Geriatrics as rigorous and demanding. She was nominated by her peers to lead two journals.
“In the end, I was selected as editor-in-chief for Gerontology & Geriatric Education,” she said. “It was a great honor to be recognized and nominated by my colleagues in these organizations, with whom I have worked for years in advancing the field of gerontology.”
At the same time, she was also elected to a four-year term as vice chair of the Academy of Gerontology in Higher Education.
NMSU names Karen Kopera-Frye associate dean of Graduate School
By Tatiana Favela | 20 Feb 2026
New Mexico State University has selected Karen Kopera-Frye as associate dean of the Graduate School. She will begin her new role Feb. 23.
“I am delighted Dr. Kopera-Frye will be joining the Graduate School,” said Ranjit T. Koodali, dean of the Graduate School and associate provost for interdisciplinary studies. “Dr. Kopera-Frye brings extensive administrative experience, including 18 years in advanced leadership roles such as associate dean of academics and research, as well as institutional knowledge and Faculty Senate leadership that will help raise the visibility of graduate education at NMSU.”
Kopera-Frye joined NMSU in 2016 and is a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. She has served in numerous leadership roles, including chair of the Faculty Senate Access, Opportunity and Outreach Committee, member of the Faculty Senate Leadership Committee, and member of the President’s Task Force on Federal and State Initiatives. She also has served on the Provost Search Committee, the Federal and State Government Initiatives – Overall EID Impacts Committee, and the Inclusive Practices at a Land-Grant University Task Force.
“I am honored and humbled to join our Graduate School at New Mexico State University,” Kopera-Frye said. “I look forward to collaborating with our interdisciplinary faculty and students to help position the Graduate School as a premier center for promoting graduate student success and academic partnerships, particularly with our tribal and community business partners.”
Kopera-Frye earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in developmental and clinical psychology from Wayne State University, and a master’s degree in public administration from NMSU. She completed graduate specialist training in gerontology. Her research focuses on aging, caregiving and cultural values among Latinx and Indigenous families.
She developed a HEST interprofessional course that supports peer mentoring among undergraduate and graduate students and has coordinated the undergraduate and graduate gerontology minor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. She is certified as an advanced-level mentor through the University of New Mexico Mentoring Institute.
This year, she was selected to serve a four-year term as editor-in-chief of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, published by the Gerontological Society of America. She also was elected chair-elect of the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education, a division of the Gerontological Society of America.
In her new role, Kopera-Frye aims to expand interdisciplinary programming, including exploring the development of a graduate gerontology certificate and degree program at NMSU. “There are many opportunities to enhance student social mobility and workforce development through the collaborative creation of graduate stackable credentials and innovative specialization training,” Kopera-Frye said.
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