Rebecca Mauldin, PhD, LMSW, studies social connectedness. She focuses on the social relationships of older adults, the factors that support them forming and maintaining positive relationships, and the ways in which their relationships affect their health, well-being, and access to vital resources and information. In addition, she uses social network analysis to investigate human and organizational networks and their role in contributing to individual and community well-being. In her teaching, Rebecca is passionate about using and developing open educational resources. She serves on the board of Sixty and Better, an aging services organization in Fort Worth, Texas that empowers older adults to live with purpose, independence, and dignity. She earned her doctorate in Social Work from the University of Houston, her Master in Social Work from the University of Houston, and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.