Rob Levrant (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) and Ana Paula Loures-Elias (Educational Psychology) co-presented a lecture session at the 2021 Conference on Academic Research in Education. Their session, "Emerging Professionals in the Field of Learning in Retirement: A Case Study of Participatory Action Research," described and interpreted the professional culture, mentoring functions received, and work-life experiences (e.g., successes and challenges) of emerging professionals in lifelong learning and measured the professional expectations of the participants against their actual described experiences. The five themes presented in the data describe the participants’ social situation within their institutes, universities, support systems, professional networks, and the profession of learning in retirement. The impact of this study may help to provide targeted professional development, succession planning, and greater opportunities for networking to personnel in this field.
