OAMHAD Resource Center

Amanda Krisher, MSW, LCSW, brings over 15 years of direct practice and program management experience to the National Council on Aging where she serves as the Associate Director for Behavioral Health in the Center for Healthy Aging. A seasoned professional in the older adult care industry, she previously was the Senior Director for a live virtual training program for older adult care professionals and a clinical social worker for a community health program and hospice organization. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore and is a Licensed Certified Clinical Social Worker in Maryland and Virginia. As a leader in older adult care, she has presented at national conferences and statewide meetings. Amanda served as the planning committee chair and member for a local trauma conference for 7 years. She is excited to bring her expertise and passion for supporting healthy aging to the Older Adults Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium Planning Committee.

Keri Lipperini joined the Administration on Aging (AOA) as the Director of the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs, January 8, 2017.
Keri has over 20 years of experience developing programs in the Government and Non-Profit sector. Prior to joining AoA, Keri worked for a County Government in Maryland, where she served as the Program Manager. While there, she oversaw the Health Promotion and Nutrition programs. Additionally, she was instrumental in bringing evidence- based programming to the County.
Anyone who talks to Keri for more than 5 minutes, will know that she is a proud Navy Veteran. She was trained as a Hospital Corpsman taking the oath to care for sick sailors and marines. This is something she is extremely passionate about and still holds to after all these years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management and a master’s degree in Public Administration with a Health care focus. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering in her community, advocating for her fellow veterans, and baking for her family and friends.  

Erin Emery-Tiburcio, PhD, ABPP is a Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Geriatric Medicine; Director of Geropsychology; and Co-Director of the RUSH Center for Excellence in Aging.

My work has centered on advancing inclusion and self-determination for youth and adults with disabilities, with an emphasis on cross-sector collaboration, community engagement, and systemic change. From launching DC-based leadership programs to overseeing complex federal grant portfolios, I’ve developed a skillset rooted in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and outcomes-focused program development.

In my federal roles at the Administration for Community Living and SAMHSA, I’ve led multi-million-dollar initiatives that improve coordination across public systems and reflect the lived experiences of people with disabilities. I bring a collaborative leadership approach grounded in disability justice principles, trauma-informed practices, and a deep understanding of the service systems that shape people’s lives.

Jennifer Solomon, M.A. serves as a Public Health Analyst for the Health Resources Services Administration/ Bureau of Health Workforce in the Division of Medicine and Dentistry. Ms. Solomon oversees the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). She has a grant portfolio comprised of several GWEP programs from across the country. Ms. Solomon is a Contract Officer Representative (COR) III overseeing contracts. Ms. Solomon completed the Bureau of Health Workforce’s Aspiring Leaders Program.
Ms. Solomon spent 28 years working for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA)/ Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. As the program lead for developing substance prevention programs for older adults, Ms. Solomon oversaw the development of the Get Connected Toolkit and was the Federal Champion for SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol #26 Treating Addiction in Older Adults. Jennifer also served as the COR III on the State Technical Contact, the Prevention Fellows Contract, and the State Liaison Contract. Jennifer was the Participation Protection Officer. She has been a Project Officer for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program and the Drug-Free Communities Program. Ms. Solomon completed the Partnership for Public Service Fellowship Program.

Eric Weakly is the Chief of the State and Consumer Protection Grants Branch in the Division of State and Community Systems Development, Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Division manages the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG), which provides funds and technical assistance to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 6 Pacific Jurisdictions. Grantees use the funds to provide comprehensive, community-based mental health services to adults with serious mental illnesses and to children with serious emotional disturbances and to monitor progress in implementing a comprehensive, community-based mental health system. The Division also administers the Projects for Assistance in Transitions from Homelessness (PATH), the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) programs, the Community Mental Health Centers Grant (CMHC), the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Center for Excellence (HBCU-CFE), and the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Older Adults (COE-BH-OA). Prior to working at SAMHSA, Eric was a project officer at the Administration for Community Living and the Administration on Aging working with the No Wrong Door/Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Inclusive Transportation, and Supported Decision-Making projects. Eric also led programs at the local level in Illinois on mental health, long-term services and support, and protective services. Prior to work in administration, Eric worked as a social worker with older adults and their families and in-patient behavioral health. Eric holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois – Chicago, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University. 

Joan Weiss, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN is an adult and gerontological nurse practitioner who serves as the Deputy Director in the Division of Medicine and Dentistry (DMD) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). She oversees workforce development programs in geriatrics, primary care, graduate medical education, mental and behavioral health, health, preventive medicine/public health, and oral health. She is the subject matter expert for the Federal Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary Community-Based Linkages. She is the HRSA representative on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Care, and Services; the Family Caregiving Advisory Council; and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advisory Council. She also serves on HHS interagency workgroups on palliative care, elder justice, and caregiving. She has held many leadership positions at HRSA including Director of the Division of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Education and Acting Director of the Division of Nursing. She is a recipient of the 2015 Secretary’s Meritorious Group Award for taking important steps to find a cure and improve care for people with dementia. She is the recipient of the 2022 HRSA Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Cristina Estrella, CHES is a Program Specialist for the Center for Healthy Aging at the National Council on Aging. In this role, Cristina provides technical assistance to U.S. Administration for Community Living grantees implementing evidence-based falls prevention and chronic disease self-management education programs. Additionally, she assists in developing resources for professionals and older adults and coordination of the annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium. 

 Cristina began her career on the COVID-19 Containment and Mitigation team at the Alexandria Health Department where she conducted contact tracing, case investigation, outbreak reporting, and community outreach, and assisted in vaccine uptake initiatives. She holds a B.S. in Health Sciences and an M.S. in Public Health Education and Promotion from Marymount University. 

Bio coming soon...

Bio coming soon...

Binod Suwal is a Senior Manager at the Center for Healthy Aging, National Council on Aging (NCOA). He manages the general office administration of the Center. He works closely with the Center Staff, Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging (ACL/AoA), and Partners on CDSME and Falls Prevention grant-related matters. He also manages consulting contracts and budget of the Center and provides administrative support to the Center staff, as needed. He has been with the NCOA since 2001.