Jennifer Pryor, MA, MS, LALFA, received her Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in
Psychology from Hollins University and the College of William & Mary, respectively. She earned her Master’s degree in Gerontology and a post-graduate certificate in Non-Profit Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Services Organization and Research at Virginia Commonwealth University. Jennifer is a licensed Assisted Living Administrator and a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Jennifer’s responsibilities include coordinating student advising and registrations, maintaining student records, and monitoring student progress. Jennifer also advises and instructs students who are interested in administration and who plan to pursue their license as an Assisted Living Administrator. In addition, she manages several continuing education and training initiatives including the state-wide, co-sponsored training program between the Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing Programs and the VCU Department of Gerontology. This program is available to professional caregivers working in Virginia’s Licensed Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Day Centers.

Jennifer’s research interests are focused on long-term care organizations, administration, and outcomes. Her personal and professional goal is to challenge the paradigm of the long-term care continuum and promote innovation and development in the industry to foster inclusiveness, community, and awareness of ageism.

Jennifer Inker, MBA, MSG, received her Bachelors degree in Art History from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. After completing her undergraduate degree, Jenny lived and worked for 21 years in the United Kingdom where she gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Housing Management and a Masters in Science in Strategic Housing Management.  She worked in various leadership roles in the affordable housing sector in England and Wales, including non-profit operations management and local government.

Jenny returned to the United States in 2007 and received an MBA in Healthcare Administration from George Washington University in 2011, a Masters in Science in Gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013, and a PhD in Health Related Sciences (Gerontology) from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2018. In the U.S. she has worked as an executive director for non-profit and for-profit assisted living providers. Jenny is a licensed assisted living facility administrator in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a certified Myers-Briggs Type Inventory Practitioner (Step I and Step II).

Jenny has been an instructor in the Department of Gerontology at VCU since 2014. She teaches Sociology of Aging, Aging and Human Values, and Long Term Care Administration. Jenny’s research interests include ageism and attitudes to aging, long-term care workforce training, and the development of elderhood.

John (Jay) T. White, MSG, has a Masters in Gerontology from the Virginia Commonwealth University.  He is Chief Operating Officer at A Grace Place Adult Care Center. His background includes marketing, public relations, fundraising and organizational development within statewide non-profit, education and tourism-related organizations.

Jay earned his BA in American History from Washington and Lee University and completed coursework for an MA in American Studies from the College of William and Mary. Current volunteer involvement includes Family Lifeline’s ElderFriends Task Force and a Grace Place Adult Day Center. Jay is a member of the Richmond Senior Network, the RVa Better Aging Forum, the Gerontological Society of America and the American Society on Aging.

Jay has co-authored articles and given presentations on a variety of topics including: LGBT and Aging, Aging in Place, Nutritional Needs of Older Adults, Evaluating Depression and Dementia and Person-Centered Care and Culture Change.

Annette S. Kelley joined the Virginia Department of Social Services Division of Licensing Programs as the Provider Training Consultant in November 2005. In this position she is responsible for training related activities for assisted living facilities and adult day care centers, providing technical assistance to adult program providers, and developing regulations for adult programs. Annette earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with a specialization in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Education.

Ms. Kelley has over twenty years of experience working in program development, program management, and training development in both the private and public sector.

Alexa van Aartrijk, MS, is a gerontologist serving as the VCU Department of Gerontology’s Community Education Coordinator. Her position entails the planning, coordination and implementation of the co-sponsored state-wide continuing education and training program, available for those working in Licensed Assisted Living and Adult Day Center settings.

As Community Education Coordinator, Alexa aims to connect community stakeholders and organizations to strong curriculum and training to ensure optimal person-centered care for individuals residing in long-term care facilities.

In addition to the Community Education Coordinator position, Alexa works with the Greater Richmond Age Wave Coalition, including serving as a LongevityU trainer.

E. Ayn Welleford, PhD, received her B.A. in Management/Psychology from Averett College, M.S. in Gerontology and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught extensively in the areas of Lifespan Development, and Developmental Gerontology, Geropsychology, as well as Ethical Decision Making and Human Values.

As Associate Professor and now in her new role as Gerontologist for Community Voice and formerly as Chair of VCU’s Department of Gerontology, she currently works to #DisruptAgeism while “Promoting Optimal Aging for Individuals and Communities” through her Teaching, Scholarship, and Community Engagement. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Welleford provides community education and serves on several boards and committees.

Dr. Welleford is former Chair of the Governor’s Commonwealth of Virginia Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Commission, as well as a recipient of the AGHE Distinguished Teacher Award. In 2011, Dr. Welleford was honored by the Alzheimer’s Association for her statewide advocacy for person centered dementia care and work on Virginia’s Statewide Dementia Plan. In 2012, Dr. Welleford received the Mary C. Payne Leadership in Aging Award for her visionary leadership as a trailblazer in the field of aging. Currently, Dr. Welleford has been integral in carrying forward the Greater Richmond Age Wave collaborative which is responsible for making our region a great place for all people to age. Dr. Welleford has the great honor of serving a co-lead of the Greater Richmond AgeWave Collaborative, with Senior Connections, Executive Director, Dr. Thelma Watson. In conjunction with these efforts, Dr. Welleford is deeply involved in carrying forward efforts to promote engagement and reduce social isolation in the Commonwealth. She has been known to say, “Let’s do something that does something.”