VCU College of Health Professions

Charlotte Arbogast currently serves as a Policy Analyst with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Her in capacity at DARS, she coordinates the agency’s regulations, assists with tracking federal and state legislation and regulatory actions, provides staff support to the Commonwealth Council on Aging, and serves as the subject matter expert on aging policy.

In starting her career, Charlotte Arbogast graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012 with a master’s degree in gerontology and a postgraduate certificate in public management. She previously worked as a health policy analyst for the Virginia Department of Health and a long-term care policy analyst for the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. In her time working at DARS, she has also served as the Commonwealth’s first dementia services coordinator. In the spring semesters, she also works as an adjunct instructor with the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sonya Barsness - Sonya Barsness Consulting brings gerontology to life. SBC provides consulting in gerontology, particularly related to person-centered care, long-term care, and dementia care.

Enid Walker Butler is the Volunteer Coordinator for Sentara Hospice Services as well as an affiliate instructor for Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Gerontology. She holds a Master of Science in Gerontology as well as a Certification of Thanatology from the Association of Death Education and Counseling. She is also a citizen member of the Cemetery Board for the Commonwealth of Virginia After a long career in the business sector, Enid has committed this next chapter of her life to walking alongside older adults through the transitions of their lives.

Annette Clark, Family Services Director with the Alzheimer’s Association CWVA received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology/Sociology and her Masters in Science degree in Gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Before joining the Alzheimer’s Association in 2004 as Family Services Director, she had 19 years of experience working with persons living with dementia and their care partners at the Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Adjunct Faculty with Virginia Commonwealth University and an Instructor for the Department of Social Services.

Tyler Corson, PhD is a gerontologist. She earned a Master of Science in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and a doctorate in Health Related Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She currently teaches in the College of Health Professions at Virginia Commonwealth University, and at Rush University in Chicago with expertise in aging issues, health care ethics, and research methodology. She has experience working with older adults both in the community and residential care settings. Dr. Corson serves on the Board of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Coastal Virginia and teaches community education classes for family members who have a loved one experiencing mental illness. Dr. Corson collaborates with the Department of Gerontology at VCU and the Virginia Department of Social Services to develop curricula and conduct professional trainings for care providers in state assisted living and adult day centers.

Regina Foster, MS, PA-C, LALFA, CDP, CADDCT has practiced as a Physician Assistant since completing the program at Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2003. Becoming a healthcare provider has allowed her to work with all populations, however seniors have always held a special place in her heart. She went back to school to gain more knowledge about the aging process and completed a second Master’s of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2018. As a student she completed the required AIT hours and upon completion of that program she became a Licensed Assisted Living Administrator and Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer. After that she enrolled in VCU’s Ph.D. Program in Health Related Sciences where her research interest is ageism in the health and beauty industry. Regina has spent time shadowing the world renowned Teepa Snow, to learn all about Teepa’s model of Positive Approach to Care and also became a Certified PAC Consultant making it her personal goal to educate caregivers and the community on Person Centered Care.

Christine Jensen is Director of Health Services Research for the Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health in Williamsburg, VA. There she Manages all aspects of dynamic and growing research program, prepares and submits grant proposals, supervisees interns, delivers evidence-based and evidence-informed programs in Virginia, develops and delivers training and community-based programs to community, state and federal partners.