From Reflection to Action: Deborah Bennett’s Next Chapter Bloomed in the Leadership and Society Initiative
Combining community, care, and conservation through repurposed flowers
What if aging didn’t mean slowing down, but instead offered a new frontier for growth, purpose, and leadership? Dr. Emily Rogalski, a leading neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, studies a remarkable group known as SuperAgers—individuals over 80 whose memory performance rivals that of people decades younger. Her research challenges conventional narratives about aging, revealing that vitality, adaptability, and continued purpose continue to be prevalent in later life. These insights not only reshape understanding of cognitive resilience but also illuminate the potential for enduring leadership and societal contribution well beyond what is commonly thought of as traditional retirement age.
SuperAgers and the Science of Resilience
Dr. Rogalski leads the Healthy Aging & Alzheimer’s Research Care (HAARC) Center, where her team investigates the biological and lifestyle factors contributing to exceptional cognitive health in older adults. Their work has identified social connection as a consistent theme among SuperAgers, suggesting that engagement and community may play a crucial role in sustained mental acuity.
“SuperAgers give us the opportunity to redefine stigma by the way that they’re engaging in life. And we see that as a real opportunity to change the conversation,” Rogalski says.
SuperAgers aren’t just statistical outliers. They are the key to understanding what allows some people to maintain exceptional cognitive health into their 80s and beyond.
“One of the most impactful findings from a lifestyle perspective is the importance of social connection. Our SuperAgers engage in social connection at a higher rate than their cognitively average peers. Our initial evidence in this area comes from survey data,” she notes.
These findings echo the Leadership and Society Initiative’s (LSI) emphasis on connection, purpose, and community in supporting accomplished leaders in envisioning purposeful next chapters beyond their longstanding careers.
Redefining Leadership in the Second Half of Life
The qualities that distinguish SuperAgers—resilience, adaptability, and a deep sense of purpose—are not only markers of cognitive vitality but also hallmarks of effective leadership. Dr. Rogalski observes that many SuperAgers continue to lead in various capacities, whether by remaining active in their professions or engaging within their communities. Their sustained activity exemplifies how leadership can evolve and persist well beyond traditional retirement age.
“SuperAgers still tend to be leaders in their communities.” Rogalski says. “Some are working in their original professions. Others are active in their communities—volunteering, mentoring, organizing.” They lead in diverse ways, drawing on adaptability, intellectual curiosity, and a sustained commitment to purposeful engagement.
These traits, especially the capacity to connect across generations and continue learning, are exactly what LSI encourages its Fellows to cultivate.
“Leadership at 60 or 80 doesn’t look like it does at 40,” Rogalski reflects. “It’s informed by wisdom, by decades of experience, and by the ability to adapt to new roles and perspectives.”
Indeed, Rogalski shares in one anecdote, a SuperAger she worked with chose to live with her daughter—not out of necessity, but to foster stronger bonds with her grandchildren. “She had to learn about pop stars to connect with them,” Rogalski laughs. “It’s a great example of how adaptability and connection are cornerstones of meaningful aging.”
This spirit of engagement underscores a central theme in Rogalski’s work: challenging the pervasive narrative that equates aging with decline. SuperAgers and initiatives like LSI offer a powerful alternative, emphasizing vitality, purpose, and continued growth at every stage of life.
A Shared Mission
Whether it’s staying mentally sharp through new challenges, remaining socially connected, or reframing what aging means, the lessons from Dr. Rogalski’s research offer a scientific foundation for what LSI promotes every day: purposeful living, at every age.
As Rogalski puts it, “If the only trajectory you see is one of decline, then the first time you forget your keys at 65, you panic. But when we have examples of vibrant aging, it reshapes what we believe is possible.”
Embracing that sense of possibility and stepping into what’s next with intention can be the most powerful kind of leadership of all.
The University of Chicago Leadership and Society Initiative
The University of Chicago Leadership and Society Initiative (LSI) supports accomplished leaders in successfully transitioning from their longstanding careers toward purposeful next chapters. LSI Fellows immerse themselves in UChicago’s unparalleled environment of big ideas and multigenerational dialogue, gaining frameworks for learning from their past and planning for their futures.
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