History
The Center for Life Story Innovations and Practice (ICLIP), formerly the International Institute of Reminiscence and Life Review was designated as an official UConn Center in April 2019.
The International Institute for Reminiscence and Life Review (IIRLR) had been operating as a program of the University of Wisconsin – Superior (UWS) Center for Continuing Education (CCE) since 1997. John Kunz, a program manager in the CCE, founded the Institute. The goal of the Institute was to promote the field of reminiscence and life review. To this end, he organized the Institute as a membership organization with a voluntary Board of Directors elected from the membership every two years. In addition, he established and directed biennial conferences held in conjunction with the Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Scientific Conferences. Sadly, Mr. Kunz passed away in 2011. At the time of his death, he endowed a fund to support the activities of the Institute. Despite his loss, the Institute has continued to function under the leadership of various Presidents and an Advisory Board with the strong support of the UWS-CCE. The Institute, with a membership of approximately 70 individuals from countries such as the US, Spain, Netherlands, China, Israel, Ireland, and Australia continues to operate a website and registry, quarterly newsletters, an online journal, and biennial conferences. However, in February of 2017, the University of Wisconsin CCE informed the Executive Committee of the IIRLR Advisory Board that they could no longer support the Institute due to a lack of dedicated faculty to run the program. They continued oversight until June 30, 2019. This decision by UWS-CCE required immediate action by the then President Dr. Juliette Shellman and the Advisory Board to look for alternatives. Many ideas were proposed and discussed. The most practical and logical proposal was the development of a Center at UConn School of Nursing. This approach is partly a continuation of the Institute, but its name, mission, goals, and structure have been adjusted not only to fit the requirements for the establishment of an academic center at UConn, but also to make it even more attractive to scholars and practitioners from different backgrounds around the world. The proposal to transition to the UConn School of Nursing and apply to become a Center was approved by the Institute’s Advisory Board and its membership at the biennial meeting in Boston on November 13th, 2018. The Center for Life Story Innovations and Practice (ICLIP) became an official UConn center and was approved by the Provost and Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut in April 2019.

Mission
The International Center for Life Story Innovations and Practice (ICLIP) brings together researchers, educators, practitioners, students, historians, and artists from around the world to promote the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities through written and oral narratives, personal histories, reminiscence, life review, autobiographical memory, and guided autobiographies. With the overarching goal of generating new knowledge in this emerging field, ICLIP provides a collaborative infrastructure to establish programs of research, implement educational programs, develop innovative applications in practice, and disseminate life story best practices

Vision
To be the national and international catalyst and clearinghouse for life story research, innovation, and practice.

Goals
1. Develop a platform to facilitate interdisciplinary life story research programs and methods.
2. Implement educational programs for faculty, researchers, students, and practitioners in the field.
3. Develop curricular models that include life story content and practice.
4. Disseminate life story research findings, innovations, and best practices.
5. Create links with community agencies and points of care around the world to promote the use of
life story approaches in the care of individuals, families, and communities.
6. Recognize outstanding contributions to the field.