ACL Meet and Greet: Returning to In Person Programming in a “Post” COVID World

Laura B. Plunkett is a Senior Program Specialist with the Center for Healthy Aging at the National Council on Aging. In this role, she works with chronic disease self-management education and fall prevention grantees across the country to provide information, support, and resources to strengthen, expand, and sustain the delivery of evidence-based programs. Prior to joining NCOA, Laura spent four years at an Area Agency on Aging in North Carolina, where she coordinated the implementation of evidence-based health promotion programs in 12 counties. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Social Work from North Carolina State University and a Master’s degree in Public Health from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her professional interests include the integration of community-based services and health care, the sustainability of evidence-based programs, and continuum of care efforts.

Samantha Raad leads the Falls Prevention Grant at the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, working specifically with EnhanceFitness and Matter of Balance. She has eight years of experience with leading and implementing evidence-based programs in community and remote settings.

LaShawndala (LaShawn) Griffin has 13 years of experience with NKFM programming and seven years with A Matter of Balance (MOB). She is a T-trainer for MOB, trained in MOB Virtual, and is a leader of other EBPs. Ms. Griffin has a great commitment to falls prevention and has maintained communication with sites throughout the pandemic to ensure continued interest and success in MOB.

Keri Lipperini is the Director in the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs, within the Administration for Community Living’s, Administration on Aging.  For over 25 years, she has worked in health and wellness, 20 of those years she has been working specifically with the aging and disabilities populations. Prior to her work at AoA, Ms. Lipperini served as Program Manager for Calvert County Maryland where she oversaw Calvert’s health promotion and nutrition programs. Keri is a former United States Navy Hospital Corpsman. She holds Masters in Public Administration (MPA) with Health Care focus from Troy State University and Bachelors of Science degree in Health Care Administration from Southern Illinois University.

Donna Bethge is an Aging Services Program Specialist in the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs at the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging.  She serves as the lead for the Falls Prevention grant program and as the Program Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority’s grant. Before joining the team at ACL, Donna worked in the Aging Network in Maryland for 10 years with Area Agencies on Aging and an assisted living community, developing and implementing programs for older adults, as well as supporting and promoting evidence-based programs.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Northern Kentucky University.

Lesha Spencer-Brown is an Aging Services Program Specialist in the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs, within the Administration for Community Living's, Administration on Aging. Driven by her passion for public health, she has spent the past decade working with nonprofit and local government entities to establish and enhance health promotion strategies among vulnerable populations and under-resourced communities. Prior to her work at ACL, Lesha served as a Health and Wellness Senior Program Manager for the National Recreation and Park Association where the managed the Healthy Aging in Parks Initiative. She earned a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Socio-Health Sciences and Community and Family Health from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Clark Atlanta University.