5/18/2009

Marylen Mann, OASIS Founder and Board Chairman, received a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The honorary degree was presented to Mann during the University Commencement ceremony on May 16.
 
OASIS is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the aging population through lifelong learning, health and civic engagement. Founded in 1982, OASIS serves more than 350,000 members age 50 and older through a network of centers in 25 U.S. cities.
 
Mann led the creation of numerous innovative programs, such as the OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring program, HealthStages and Connections technology education. During her tenure, OASIS has received five major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop public programs on Russia, China, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the Immigrant Experience.
 
In 2006, Mann received the AARP Impact Award. Among her other awards are the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University in St. Louis, the Woman of Valor Award from the Jewish Federation of St. Louis in 1998, the Woman Who Makes a Difference Award from the International Women’s Forum in 1992 and the Surgeon General’s Bronze Medal Award in 1988.

She also is co-author of numerous articles on aging, and has served as the principal investigator and program director of education and research projects on health and enrichment programs for older adults.
 
She holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, both from Washington University in St. Louis.