A CU Denver doctoral student is earning national recognition for her research.
Laura Meyer, a doctoral student in the Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) at the University of Colorado Denver, has been selected as a PEO Scholar for the 2026–2027 academic year. The scholarship will support her dissertation research on how older adults living in a large retirement community talk about—and avoid talking about—death, dying, and end-of-life planning, and how those patterns reflect broader ideological forces in the United States.
Why This Matters For Students And The Denver Community
CU Denver is built for impact. Research like Meyer’s shows how the social sciences help address lived challenges in practical, human-centered, and timely ways.
This work connects to issues many families navigate:
- How to start conversations about end-of-life wishes
- How communities support aging adults
- How beliefs and norms shape what feels “okay” to discuss
- How communication can affect planning and care decisions
About The PEO Scholars Award
The PEO Scholars Award provides support to outstanding women pursuing doctoral-level study and conducting research with the potential to make meaningful contributions in their fields.