Each year, the CALC Exceptional Engagement Award recognizes a Faculty Associate who exemplifies the land-grant mission of disseminating and operationalizing the expertise of the academy to the general population. Award candidates demonstrate ongoing outreach which improves the lives of older adults through public service, education, and evidence-based interventions. The award recognizes the contribution of selected candidates to the physical and mental health, self-determination, financial security, family systems, and/or personal fulfillment of the aging population, and/or to the laws, policies, and processes that impact this group.

The Selection Committee took special note of Dr. Pitts’ engagement with senior residents and individuals with disabilities in West Lafayette/Lafayette and Indianapolis. As part of his research program, Pitts focuses on supporting the physical and mental health as well as improving the accessibility of next-generation personal mobility and transportation solutions for communities with limited travel abilities. In 2022, he co-led an interdisciplinary team in winning 1st place in the U.S. Department of Transportation Inclusive Design Challenge (IDC). His team developed a life-sized, universally-designed autonomous vehicle (AV) testbed, known as EASI RIDER (Efficient Accessible and Safe Interaction in a Real Integrated Design Environment for Riders with disabilities).