Jon Antin

Human Factors Research Scientist, VA Tech University

Jon Antin, Ph.D., has been a Human Factors Research Scientist at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia for the past 15 years. Dr. Antin leads the Senior Mobility Awareness, Safety, and Health (SMASH) Group, and his research efforts have investigated the effects of capability, behavior, training, generational affiliation, annual mileage, and attitude on senior driver safety and mobility. Recent interests have focused on rural senior mobility and senior drivers’ acceptance and usage of advanced driver assistance systems. Dr. Antin is a faculty affiliate of the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech, a member of the Virginia DMV Mature Driver Committee, and this year served as a presenter at NHTSA’s inaugural Research on Older Adult Mobility symposium (ROAM 1.0). 

Jon Antin’s presentation slides

Dr. Clara Berridge

Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Washington

Clara Berridge is a gerontologist whose research focuses on the ethical and policy implications of digital technologies and AI used in eldercare. She asks questions about how to promote socio-technical practices in ways that do not marginalize, isolate, or diminish their participants. Across projects, she’s often thinking about privacy, power, and decision-making about technology use. Her training includes an MSW, Ph.D. in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, and a postdoctoral fellowship with the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research at Brown University.

Clara Berridge’s Adding Age to AI presentation slides

Mark Diaz

Research Scientist, Ethical AI, Google

Mark Díaz is a Research Scientist on the Ethical AI team at Google. His research probes the origins of social biases in data sets and their influence on algorithm performance. He has previously studied age bias in language models used for sentiment analysis. He also explores approaches to involving historically marginalized groups in the development of algorithmic systems.

Mark Diaz’s presentation slides

Kerstin Haring

Assistant Professor and Director of the Humane Robot Technology Laboratory, University of Denver

Dr. Kerstin S. Haring is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Denver. She is leading the “Humane Robot Technology” lab there. Before this, she was one of the leading researchers in Human-Machine-Teaming at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She completed her PhD in Human Robot Interaction at the University of Tokyo in Japan and her Master in Computer Science and Cognitive Science at the University of Freiburg in Germany. Her work focusses on evaluating and enhancing collaborative robot capabilities and increase the interaction effectiveness of social robots. Her research evaluates trust, collaboration, ethical implications, and teaming with robots and other autonomous systems and seeks to understand and design mechanisms enabling mixed human-machine collaborations.

Eunju Namkung

Virtual Services Coordinator, Workforce Development Center, Alexandria, VA

Eunju Namkung currently serves as the Virtual Services Coordinator at the City of Alexandria’s Workforce Development Center and as a Product Manager at Brazen, a virtual events software company. She is a professional communicator specializing in digital media, knowledge management systems and remote project management. She has experience in non-profits, schools and universities, technology companies and public policy organizations. Eunju earned her Masters in Public Administration from Virginia Tech, from where she also received a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. She is currently a candidate for a Masters in Urban & Regional Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Computing. She received her bachelor’s degree in film and media studies at Yale University.

Eunju Namkung’s presentation slides

Lee Poskanzer

CEO of Directive Communication Systems (DCS), Directive Communication Systems (DCS)

Lee leads a technology company delivering digital assets property succession management solutions for all stakeholders involved with an individual’s death. Recognizing the growing need for effectively managing digital property succession management, DCS works with professional advisors, individuals clients and content providers with the planning and administration of an individual’s digital holding. Lee has become an established and respected authority on the digital afterlife having appeared several articles and features for leading press including: winner of the National Law Journal’s Trailblazer Award, CNBC.com, Wealthmanagement.com, CNET, Insurance News, Trust and Estates Magazine. Mr. Poskanzer has also led CLEs for American Bar Association, ACTEC, STEP International, ON and BC Estate Forums, WealthCounsel, several state and local Bar Associations, NAEPC chapters and other industry associations.

Lee Poskanzer’s presentation slides

Jim Steel

Writer, Iron Company & Starting Strength Physical Training Systems

Writer and podcaster for iron company, writer for Starting Strength, 30 years college strength and conditioning coach. Owner of Basbarbell.com. 

Jim Steel has been immersed in athletics and the Iron Game for most of his life. He has been a college football player and coach, powerlifter, Muay Thai fighter and is currently a competitive bodybuilder. In 1999, Steel was named Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania, and moved up to Head Strength and Conditioning Coordinator in 2004. He is the owner of the blog basbarbell.com, and is a motivational speaker, frequent podcast guest and the author of two books, Basbarbell Book of Programs and Steel Reflections.

Steel is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Pamela Teaster

Professor of Human Development and Family Science, VA Tech University

Pamela Teaster is a professor of human development and family science at Virginia Tech and director of the Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology.

Teaster has a long history of serving the public interest in ensuring that older Americans receive protection from exploitation and abuse by those in positions of power or trust. Her ongoing research focuses on the mistreatment of elders and vulnerable adults, public and private guardianship, end-of-life issues and decision-making, ethical treatment and human rights issues of vulnerable adults, and public affairs and policy. She is the coauthor or co-editor of four books and more than a hundred peer-reviewed articles, reports, and book chapters.

In addition to her scholarship, Teaster is on the editorial board of the Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. She is a fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. She is an active board member and former president of the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. She also serves as secretary on the Board of Trustees for the Center for Guardianship Certification and secretary general of the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

Before joining the Virginia Tech faculty, Teaster served as director of the Center for Gerontology and chair of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Kentucky, where she also served as director of the Ohio Valley Appalachia Regional Geriatric Education Center, director of doctoral studies, and associate dean for research at the College of Public Health. She founded the Kentucky Guardianship Association and was its first president. She also founded the Kentucky Justice Center for Elders and Vulnerable Adults.

Pamela Teaster’s presentation slides