VCU College of Health Professions

Mary Beth Alford, MS, LNHA is currently a PACE Navigator with InnovAge PACE in Roanoke, VA. She has an undergraduate degree is Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University and a masters degree in Gerontology from the Medical College of Virginia. She also holds a Nursing Home Administrator's license in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mary Beth has worked with older adults for more than 20 years. She began her career as an activity assistant and has held roles in admissions and marketing, was an assistant administrator of a nursing home and and administrator of two assisted living communities. PACE, Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly, has been her passion and she has worked with the community-based program for more than 7 years. Mary Beth has an 8 year old son, Charlie, and they enjoy camping, hiking, music festivals and exploring nature together in the Roanoke Valley.

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.

Tara Beatty received her Master of Science in gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia in 2000. She currently works at Covenant Woods, a continuing care retirement community in Mechanicsville, as the Life Enrichment Manager. She is a licensed Assisted Living Facility Administrator. Tara is passionate about improving the lives of individuals living with Dementia.  She is a certified Dementia Practitioner,  Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional, and a Positive Approach to Care trainer.  She is trained by INELDA as an End of Life Doula. She enjoys training with the Gerontology Department and has assisted in the development of several of the trainings.

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.

Toy Newcomb is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in the state of Virginia and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) certified by the International Association of Trauma Professionals. She holds a Graduated Certificate from Liberty University in Pastoral Counseling. She provides clinical mental health counseling integrating evidenced based clinical interventions with Biblical principles at her private practice, Renewal Christian Counseling, PLLC.

Her counseling experience includes working with individuals who have experienced a variety of reasons for seeking help to include but not limited to trauma, grief/loss, substance abuse, self-worth/self-esteem issues, stress management, relationship challenges, symptom management, spiritual conflicts, effective/assertive communication, depression and anxiety. Additionally, I have facilitated support and counseling groups for the geriatric population and their adult caregivers.

Ellen Phipps, CTRS, MSG, Gerontologist, is the Executive Director of Aging Together; connecting older adults to resources to improve quality of life as we age; and, Author of Connections: Engagement in Life for Persons with Dementia, A Complete Activities Guide. Before joining Aging Together, Ellen spent 18 years at the Alzheimer’s Association, Central & Western Virginia Chapter where she served as Vice President of Programs & Services and, Interim Executive Director. Ellen holds a Masters of Gerontology Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University where she also has served as adjunct faculty.  She has experience in managing Adult Day Intergenerational centers both in the US and England.

Allison Watkins has always had a passion for supporting older adults and people with disabilities to ensure they live a life filled with the quality that they deserve. Allison has over 16 years of health care experience. She obtained her CNA License in 2006 from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, followed by her Med Tech License in 2012, and her associate degree in Business Administration in 2016. As a CNA, she has worked in multiple settings including group homes, nursing homes, assisted living, skilled home care, hospice, and personal care. These experiences have helped her to grow into a well-rounded caregiver with the skills and confidence to support older adults and people with disabilities with a wide range of preferences and needs. Allison currently works as the Home Care Supervisor at Family Lifeline, a non-profit organization in Richmond, Virginia. She continues her CNA practice with Legacy Hospice. Nine years in the home care field have ignited Allison’s commitment to eliminating social isolation and loneliness among her clients and in supporting care providers through trauma-informed approaches. In 2019-2020, Allison partnered with artists Gigi Amateau and Penelope Carrington and 8 care providers to raise community awareness about professional care providers through The Hearts of Gold Collective. To learn more about The Hearts of Gold Collective, please visit www.stretchingmyhandsout.com.