Meet Our Team

Laura is a gerontologist who started her career in media. She served on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s transition team, and is now advising on the implementation of Age-Friendly Pennsylvania. Before her current position, Laura led older adult initiatives at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and wrote a column for AARP.org about intergenerational solidarity. During her graduate work at Miami University in Ohio and Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand, she studied aging and demographic change from Western and Eastern perspectives. Laura elevates the global age-friendly network through speaking engagements nationally and locally, including her TEDx Talk Reimagining Communities for All Ages.

Cassandra is a community organizer and champion for intergenerational connection. She leads Age-Friendly’s Age Inclusion Campaign, a regional media and learning campaign that celebrates aging in our region. Cassandra is a member of the FISA Foundation’s Beyond Disability Learning Cohort and serves on the Board of the Oakland Planning Development Corporation. She previously led community engagement at ACCESS Transportation and the Alzheimer’s Association and has presented across the country on age-inclusive programming. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Dan is a writer and educator with a passion for sharing stories that inspire people and create communities. He holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Rochester and has authored journal articles and book chapters on film and media theory. He taught film studies at the University of Iowa and currently teaches older adults through the University of Pittsburgh's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Susan’s initial career was in theatre, media and the arts including as the Executive Director for Discovery Theater at the Smithsonian Institution and Education Director of the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills, CA. In Pittsburgh, Susan has worked as a teaching artist, teaching youth, adults with disabilities and recent refugees in various community venues. Susan's passion for community engagement includes serving as Education Coordinator for the ReNew Festival, and her current role as the Community Outreach Chair for the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh.

Randi has more than 20 years of management experience in organizational leadership and relationship building. She has previously worked as the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts and the Executive Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce. Randi also works part-time at UPMC St. Margaret. Randi has a BA in Studio Art from Connecticut College and an MA in Arts Administration from Goucher College.

Rafael Engel is a recently retired Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. He received a PhD in social welfare from the University of Wisconsin, an MSW from the University of Michigan and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. Engel coordinated the School of Social Work’s Gerontology Certificate Program and was the principal investigator for the John A. Hartford Practicum Partnership Program in Aging Education. He received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award by Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging (SWPPA). Engel continues to write about low-wage work, poverty in later life and antisemitism.

Daniel Hyung Jik Lee is a Research Associate in the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. He received a PhD from Pitt School of Social Work, following his studies at Yonsei University and Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea. His work, which focuses on social work program evaluation and advancing evidence-based practices to improve community outcomes, has supported various community-based research projects, including the Allegheny County Jail Needs Assessment and a study on Utilization of Human Services in Allegheny County. Daniel also collaborates with local Children, Youth and Families (CYF) agencies. His commitment to fostering impactful social work interventions reflects his passion for creating sustainable, inclusive communities.

Margie has dedicated her career to being the voice of older adults and aging. As the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association (PALA), she has advocated for older adults in Harrisburg and Washington, DC. She was a member of the Governor’s Long Term Care Council and worked to develop Aging Our Way, PA, the strategic plan for aging in Pennsylvania. Since retiring from PALA, she continues to advocate for older adults. Margie is active with Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh's founder Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging (SWPPA) and was honored to receive the SWPPA Pruitt-Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 in recognition of her contributions in the field of aging.

Paula is a Washington County native with a lifelong passion for equity, empathy and community connection. Her 30+ years of professional experience include both state and county government positions. She currently holds leadership roles in both civic organizations and her place of worship. Most recently, Paula supported older adults as the Operations Director for the Wills and Healthcare Decisions Clinic at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Duquesne University. She’s excited to bring her deep experience, thoughtful leadership and personal motto—“a life of service is a life well lived”—to Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh.