Soeun Jang

Research Interests

• Gerontology and aging
• Social determinants of cognitive health
• Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
• Dementia-friendly communities
• Family caregiving and community-based dementia support

Teaching Interests

• Social work research methods
• Aging in America
• Family caregiving
• Human behavior and the social environment
• Social determinants of health and health disparities

Soeun Jang, MSW, is a PhD candidate in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington. Her research examines how modifiable social and environmental factors shape cognitive health, dementia care, and healthy aging, with particular attention to underserved older adults, persons living with dementia and their family caregivers.

Using population-based quantitative data, qualitative inquiry, and community-engaged approaches, her research centers on social and neighborhood environments, cognitive resilience, caregiving, and dementia-friendly communities. Her research agenda is grounded in her direct practice experience in adult day care services and strengthened by interdisciplinary collaborations across social work, public health, nursing, kinesiology, and bioengineering, as well as partnerships with community organizations serving diverse aging populations. Soeun Jang previously served as president and currently serves as vice president of the gerontology student organization at UTA and is an AGESW pre-dissertation fellow. Her long-term goal is to inform the development of community-based interventions that reduce cognitive health disparities and promote equitable, age- and dementia-friendly communities.