The Commissioners
CCoA is composed of 18 outstanding appointees from diverse professional backgrounds including government, administration, gerontology, public policy, psychology, research, social work, activism, development, neurology, public health, and academia. Appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Rules Committee, the Commissioners represent the state’s racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity.
Commissioners bring their extensive knowledge and experience to the table, amplified with empathy and a passion for advocacy. Together they engage in strategic thinking and creative problem-solving to advance our policy priorities. Each Commissioner volunteers up to two, three-year terms to advise the Governor and Legislature, along with state, federal, and local agencies, and work closely with public, nonprofit, and private-sector partners on the issues and policies that affect older adults in California.
DAVID LINDEMAN, Ph.D.
CHAIR
COMMISSION CHAIR
David Lindeman, PhD, is Director of Health, Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS), UC Berkeley, and Director, Center for Technology and Aging (CTA). Dr. Lindeman has worked in the fields of health care and long-term care for nearly 40 years as a health services researcher and gerontologist, conducting research related to telehealth, health care technology, chronic disease management, healthy aging, disabilities, dementia, community-based and residential services, health care workforce, and family caregiving. Dr. Lindeman’s current focus is working with researchers, entrepreneurs and investors on the incubation, start-up, evaluation, and scaling of technology-enabled healthcare solutions, including initiatives that address critical healthcare challenges through telehealth, mobile/cloud, sensors/IoT, robotics, assistive technologies, and machine intelligence (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning). Dr. Lindeman received his PhD and MSW from the University of California, Berkeley.
DANA TOPPEL
COMMISSION VICE-CHAIR
Dana Toppel is the Chief Operating Officer at Jewish Family Service of San Diego where she provides overall leadership for the impact-driven, multi-service organization with the bold vision of building a stronger, healthier, more resilient, and equitable San Diego. She has more than two decades of experience of service in the non-profit sector. Toppel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in social work and business administration from San Diego State University. She is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of California.
CHERYL BROWN
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Cheryl R. Brown of San Bernardino is a former member of the California State Assembly and a family owned small business owner. While in the Legislature she chaired the Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee and authored a concurrent resolution establishing the California Task Force on Family Caregiving. Brown also served on the San Bernardino County and City Planning Commission for 17 years. Brown is a journalist who served as a television talk show host for 12 years. She is a veteran Caregiver and now care gives for her husband Hardy.
MARCY ADELMAN, Ph.D.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR
Dr. Marcy Adelman is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist in San Francisco. A pioneer in the field of lesbian and gay aging, she has worked for over 30 years to make visible the lives, concerns and contributions of LGBT older adults, and is a leading advocate for quality LGBT elder care and policies that safeguard equal treatment. Marcy and her late partner Jeannette Gurevitch founded Openhouse in 1998 to address the housing and service needs of LGBT elders. Her advocacy and research were pivotal in educating service providers and city and state officials about the unique needs of LGBT elders, leading to collaborative relationships with providers and agencies that resulted in services that are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the LGBT community.Currently, Dr. Adelman serves on the Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee for the City and County of San Francisco, the Advisory Council to the San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging and on the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Nevada.
DAVID CAMPOS
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
David Campos currently serves as Deputy County Executive for the County of Santa Clara where, among other things, he oversees the county’s legislative affairs. Campos has served as Vice-Chair of the California Democratic Party since his election in 2021. David has more than two decades of public service, having previously served as an elected member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, a San Francisco Police Commissioner, General Counsel of San Francisco's public schools, and a Deputy City Attorney.
ERIKA CASTILE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
FEDERAL ADVOCACY SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR
With more than 20 years in the long-term care profession, Erika Castile brings energy, passion, and expertise to her work, having achieved a BA and Master’s degree in Gerontology from San Diego State University. She served as the former president of the CAHF Kern County Chapter and presently serves as the President of the San Diego Chapter. Erika Castile is a recent graduate of the CAHF Nursing Home Leader Academy of Excellence and the prestigious AHCA/NCAL National Leadership program. The California Association of Long Term Care Medicine (CALTCM) recently recognized Erika for developing one of the top five best practices in California – The Pain Management in Short Term Patients project.
JOSEPH A. CISLOWSKI, M.P.P.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES & BYLAWS COMMITTEE
Joe Cislowski is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Care Rights, a nonprofit organization that offers free, unbiased Medicare assistance to thousands of recipients and their caregivers every year. He has devoted his career to providing services to and advocating for, older adults, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. His background includes providing policy and management services to nonprofit associations, higher education institutions, political entities, medical centers, and private funders. Joe Cislowski served in staff positions with both the U.S. Congress and the California Legislature, where he developed expertise with Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare financing programs, as well as consumer protection laws and regulations. He also has substantial campaign experience as a consultant and volunteer at the national, state, and local levels. Mr. Cislowski received his Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles.
DR. ADRIENE DAVIS, Ph.D.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Dr. Adriene "Alex" Davis is an award-winning academic and strategist renowned in the fields of economic and workforce development. She is the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development at Rancho Santiago Community College District and the Executive Director of the Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC). Previously, she acted as Vice Chancellor of Educational Services, overseeing critical areas of the district's programs and services.
In her current role, she continues to lead regional Strong Workforce Program initiatives across four community college districts and ten institutions. She advises OC regional Chancellors and Presidents on Strong Workforce Program investments and collaborates with regional leaders to implement career education and employer engagement strategies.
Dr. Davis is active on nationwide, statewide, and regional Boards, and has received numerous awards for her contributions to higher education and workforce development. She earned her doctorate in higher education leadership from California State University, Long Beach.
JANET C. FRANK, DrPH
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE
Janet. C. Frank, DrPH, is a Faculty Associate at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and an Adjunct Associate Professor in Community Health Sciences at the UCLA School of Public Health. From 1990 to 2013, she served as Assistant Director of Academic Programs in the UCLA Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA where she led projects in geriatric workforce development, evidence-based health promotion for older adults, and minority faculty development. Currently, she is founder of Applied Aging Resources, a consulting business. Dr. Frank is a member of the California Community College Health Workforce Initiative and has recently participated in the California Master Plan on Aging planning process in the areas of health and wellness, workforce, and research. Following completion of a Master’s in Gerontology from the University of Southern California, Dr. Frank received her Doctorate of Public Health from UCLA’s School of Public Health.
BRENDALYNN R. GOODALL, MSW
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Brendalynn Goodall’s deep commitment to and engagement with aging services and policy issues, centered on principles of equity, has spanned many years. Her activist and social justice roots are anchored in the East Bay as a native of Oakland. She is an accomplished Administrator and Social Worker with more than 30 years in the field of aging, mental health, and workforce development. Professionally retired nine years ago as the City of Oakland’s, Aging & Adult Services Division Manager, she oversaw programs for older adults and adults with disabilities and provided services to 4,000 vulnerable older adults annually. The Division covered a wide range of programs and support, including senior centers, paratransit, 55+ workforce development, case management for frail elders and persons with disabilities on Medi-Cal and/or Medicare, foster grandparents/senior companion programs and liaison with the City’s Commission on Aging. Brendalynn Goodall received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from two Bay Area Institutions.
BEN JAUREGUI, DSW
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Ben Jauregui, DSW, serves as Manager of Integrated Transitional Care at Inland Empire Health Plan. His interdisciplinary team provides wraparound services including transition services, home and community-based services, and housing services. Dr Jauregui has dedicated his career to ensuring older adults and people with disabilities can participate fully in all aspects of life.
He is the founding board chair of the Inland Coalition on Aging leading the efforts to create the Inland Empire Master Plan for Aging. He also serves as an appointed Commissioner on the San Bernardino County Senior Affairs Commission.
Dr. Jauregui received a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in social work.
JAMIE JENSEN, Ph.D.
RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Dr. Jamie Jensen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, (Cal Poly Humboldt) where they have been part of the faculty since 2008. They hold a BASW and MSW from Cal Poly Humboldt, an MA in Human Development, and a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California.
Dr. Jensen has lived experience caring for aging parents and is deeply committed to aging in California, with professional experience in aging, community planning, caregiver support, medical social work, and social gerontology. As the Founder and Director of the Full Life Institute, they focus on enhancing the quality of life for older adults, promoting inclusivity, and fostering innovative approaches to aging in place within rural communities.
SHELLEY LYFORD
RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Shelley Lyford is a passionate and unwavering champion for older adults, advocating for aging issues throughout California and across the country. Lyford leads West Health, a family of nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations dedicated to lowering costs to enable successful aging for older adults through a combination of outcomes-based philanthropy, applied medical research, and policy and advocacy. In Washington, D.C., Lyford is an ardent voice for seniors advocating for Medicare’s ability to directly negotiate to lower prescription drug costs, encouraging the acceleration of value-based care models and increasing pricing transparency. Lyford holds a master’s degree in international relations and political economy from the University of San Diego.
DEBBIE MEADOR
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR
Debbie Meador enjoyed a nearly 30-year career in the oversight of state and local government programs and operations. During her oversight career, she gained valuable experience and developed expert skills in research and analysis of numerous policy areas including health and social services, K-12 and higher education, transportation, local government, energy and utilities, veterans’ affairs, and consumer boards. Debbie Meador is a Certified Public Accountant (currently inactive) and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from California State University, Dominquez Hills. Debbie’s interest and passion continue to include advocacy and good government. As such, she is honored to use her skills, knowledge, and experience to further the mission and goals of the California Commission on Aging.
TIMOTHY PERRY
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
Tim Perry is a public safety executive, former federal prosecutor, and law professor. Throughout his career, in public service and private practice, Perry has worked to vindicate the rights of society's most vulnerable, including older adults and the mobility impaired. He is Chairperson of Seniors Against Fraud and Exploitation (SAFE), a nonprofit. He worked for Justice Joyce L. Kennard of the California Supreme Court, and clerked for Judge Peter W. Hall of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He is a recipient of the US Attorney General's Award and multiple commendation from the Department of Homeland Security. He earned his JD from Berkeley Law School; an MSc in Political Studies from the University of Cape Town, which he attended as a Fulbright Scholar; and a BA in Linguistics from Brown University.
FAISAL QAZI, D.O.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE
Dr. Faisal Qazi is a practicing Neurologist in southern CA since 2006 and an Associate Professor of Neurology at Western University of Health Sciences and UC Riverside. He is co-founder of The Neurology Group, a specialty private practice group covering Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties through its outpatient clinics and at local hospitals. His work includes neuro-ethics as well as related public policy issues. He is currently the President of MiNDS (Medical Network Devoted to Service), a charitable organization that focuses on neurology-specific healthcare services to underserved families in the local service area. Dr. Qazi is from southern CA and finished his residency training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit in 2005. He subsequently finished a Neurophysiology Fellowship at UC San Diego in 2006.
ELLEN SCHMEDING
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
Commissioner Schmeding retired as Chief Operating Officer for St. Paul’s Senior Services in February 2023 where she had oversight of the four residential facilities as well as the Chaplaincy Program, Dining Services, Facilities, Human Resources and Marketing. Prior to joining St. Paul’s in 2017, Ms. Schmeding worked with the County of San Diego for 30 years, most recently as the Director of Aging & Independence Services (the Area Agency on Aging for San Diego County) as well as serving as the Public Administrator, Public Guardian and Public Conservator for San Diego County. Ms. Schmeding is a graduate of San Diego State University’s Counseling Education Master’s program, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a certified Residential Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) Administrator.