Advisory Board Members
Dr. Jay Sokolovsky
Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the University of Florida.
He continues to train doctoral students in public health at the Tampa School of Public Health. He is also the recipient of the American Anthropological Association’s Textor Award for Anticipatory Anthropology and serves as the editor of Berghahn Press’s book series, Aging, Culture and the Life Course.
Ms. Karen Reside
President of the Long Beach Gray Panthers.
Previously served as secretary. She oversees an award-winning internship program in collaboration with California State University, Long Beach, received the Innovation Award from the Los Angeles Alliance for Community Health and Aging for her workforce development program, directed the California State Science Fair at the Museum of Science and Industry, arranged volunteer training at the national office of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), taught grant writing at the Boys & Girls Clubs, and managed an art gallery dedicated to women and artists of color.
Dr. Elaine Acosta Gonzalez
Founder of the Sociology Program at Alberto Hurtado University in Chile.
Served as the program’s academic coordinator for ten years and currently serves as Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Care, Family and Well-being (CUIFABI). She is a member of the Network of Care, Gender and Citizenship Studies (ESOMI) in Spain and collaborates with the University of Deusto’s research team on International Migrations.
Dr. Kamiar Alaei
Chairman and Professor of Global Health Policy at California State University, Long Beach (91ÖÆƬ³§).
He also serves as an External Evaluator at the University of Oxford and as the Principal Investigator of a federal grant exceeding $10 million to develop interdisciplinary degree programs in Public Health Informatics and Technology (PHIT). Dr. Alaei has earned five graduate degrees, including two doctorates, in medicine, health policy, epidemiology, international health, and international human rights law from prestigious institutions, including Harvard University and the University of Oxford, where he studied on full scholarships. He also holds an advanced certificate in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare from MIT.
Ms. Dina Berg
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Heart of Ida in Long Beach.
Dina Berg is a nonprofit executive, educator, and community advocate with more than 15 years of experience leading mission-driven organizations and over a decade of experience teaching in higher education. Through Heart of Ida, she provides culturally responsive services for low-income older adults, including food security, healthcare access, digital inclusion, and community connection programs. Under her leadership, the organization has become a trusted community institution recognized for its equity-centered approach and strong community partnerships. She also teaches in the Master of Public Administration program at California State University, Long Beach, where she focuses on nonprofit management, grants administration, leadership, and public administration, while mentoring students and emerging nonprofit professionals.
Dr. Maria Chandler
Chief Medical Officer at The Children’s Clinic (TCC).
Dr. Maria Y. Chandler oversees the clinic’s medical activities and leads the expansion of its Behavioral Health Program. She is also a pediatrician at MemorialCare Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach and a graduate of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Medical School and Pediatric Residency Program. In addition, she serves as Volunteer Clinic Faculty in UCI’s Departments of Pediatrics and Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, is the elected President of the Association of MD/MBA Programs, and serves on the Board of Trustees for Long Beach Memorial/Miller Children’s Hospital. She also chairs the Medical Economics Task Force and serves as an MD/MBA Program Advisor at UCI’s School of Medicine and Merage School of Business.
Dr. Michael Williams
Professor and Director of the School of Nursing at California State University, Long Beach (91ÖÆƬ³§).
Dr. Michael L. Williams began serving at 91ÖÆƬ³§ in July 2022, following 10 years as Director of the School of Nursing at Eastern Michigan University and 15 years as an associate professor. His research focuses on family stress and coping during critical illness, men’s health, LGBTQ+ health concerns, and nursing education. He is a past president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, a recipient of the AACN Mentoring and Education Awards, and a board member of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation.
Dr. Jasmine Lacasama
Program Officer at Archstone Foundation.
Jasmine DeGuzman Lacsamana advances initiatives that strengthen health and long-term services and supports for older adults and caregivers. Her work includes developing programs that build the capacity and sustainability of Adult Day Services, overseeing grantmaking and partnerships focused on family caregiving, dementia care, health systems, nonprofit capacity building, Medi-Cal learning collaboratives, and safety-net programs. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Grantmakers In Aging and has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and academic research.
Ms. Laura Trejo
First Director of the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department.
Appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Dr. Laura Trejo oversees programs and services for older adults and adults with disabilities, including Adult Protective Services (APS), the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and the County’s 14 Community and Senior Centers. Her key initiatives include Purposeful Aging Los Angeles (PALA) and the Los Angeles Aging & Disability Resource Connection. With more than 36 years of experience in aging, health, mental health, Alzheimer’s care, and rehabilitation, Dr. Trejo is committed to developing culturally competent and impactful programs that help older adults and adults with disabilities live with dignity and independence.
