Wilson Public Policy Scholar Marie-Therese Connolly Awarded 2011 MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grant

Wilson Center Public Policy Scholar Marie-Therese Connolly has been awarded a 2011 MacArthur ‘genius’ grant for her work combating and exposing the abuse of the elderly.

Connolly, Director of the Department of Justice's Elder Justice and Nursing Home Initiative, used her policy and legislative skills to help draft The Elder Justice Act, the first comprehensive bill to address elder abuse. It was passed by Congress last year.

“Marie-Therese Connolly is a dedicated and hardworking lawyer, scholar, and advocate for the elderly in this country,” said Michael Van Dusen, Executive Vice President and COO of The Wilson Center. “She works tirelessly to enhance their access to reliable and affordable health, legal, social, and financial services within the many constraints that exist in our society.”

Originally headed for a career in medicine, Connelly, a student at Stanford, began to learn about the “countless riveting, impossible, shameful and heartbreaking issues at the intersection of public health, vulnerability and the law.” From there she found her calling, and her focus on work in elder abuse began.

A leader in the field, Connolly continues to promote awareness of elder abuse. As founder and director of the Life Long Justice initiative, Connolly is creating a national advocacy program to help prevent and detect mistreatment of the elderly.

Each of the 22 new MacArthur fellows will receive an unrestricted $500,000 prize intended to support their innovative efforts. Fellows are chosen for their works’ originality and potential for lasting impact.