Biography and expertise
Samuel Van Vleet, PhD, MGS, is a social gerontologist and Assistant Professor who directs the Community Health and Aging Trajectories (CHAT) Research Group. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and earned his MGS (Master of Gerontological Studies) and PhD in Social Gerontology at Miami University. His research examines how social, environmental, and structural factors shape health and well-being across the life course, with particular attention to aging, community health, social connection, and place-based inequities.
Education
Doctorate Degree
PhD in Social Gerontology
Miami University, 2025
Master's Degree
MGS in Gerontological Studies
Miami University, 2021
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Van Vleet, S. C., Jang, J., Garcia, C. C., & Aggarwal, P. (2026). Loneliness as a Public Health Concern: Examining Demographic and Health Correlates Across Age Groups. Frontiers in Public Health.
- Versey, H. S., & Van Vleet, S. C. (2026). Mapping ``Policy Deserts’’ in Anti-Displacement Protections in New York City: Implications for Aging-in-Place. Public Policy and Aging Report. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prag031
- Joo, J. H., Xie, A., Van Vleet, S. C., Locascio, J., Brackpool, K., Wu, F., … Solomon, P. (2026). Technology-Enhanced Peer Support for Depression in Older Adults: Single-Arm Mixed Methods Feasibility Study. JMIR Formative Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/85526
- Kwon, J., Qui, X., & Van Vleet, S. C. (2026). Where You Are Matters: Neighborhood Impacts on Nursing Home Staffing Levels. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2026.106230
- Joo, J., Van Vleet, S. C., Wu, F., Solomon, P., Cloney, N., Xie, A., … Mace, R. (2026). Exploring the Mediating Role of Working Alliance in a Peer Support Intervention for Late-Life Depression. BMC Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05376-7