​Melissa J. K. Howe, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Scientist in the Academic Research Centers at NORC at the University of Chicago. She is the Analytic Project Director of the National, Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP), a longitudinal study that integrates survey and biomeasure data collection to examine health and social relationships of older adults. Dr. Howe is also the Principal Investigator of the Positive Aging for Latinos Study (PALS), a community-based participatory research project in Chicagoland. She directs a NORC funded study of Public Awareness of Elder Financial Exploitation in the United States. Her research focuses on elder mistreatment, elder care, and cross-cultural studies of health and wellbeing among older adults.