Office of Associate Director (OAD)

The Associate Director serves as a principal leader for scientific strategy, innovation, and management across the NIA and makes significant contributions to a wide range of directives, including science policy development, program evaluation, communications activities, and stakeholder and congressional outreach.

The Associate Director also oversees three critical functions within the Office of the Director. These include:

• Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL)
• Office of Legislation, Policy, and International Activities (OLPIA)
• Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation (OPAE)

Director: Melinda Kelley, Ph.D, Associate Director for Scientific Strategy, Innovation, and Management

OAD staff include:

• David Unterberger
• Kim Calvin

Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL)

Director: Cindy McConnell

OCPL disseminates information on aging research and on health conditions and diseases associated with growing older, including but not limited to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, to a wide variety of audiences, including journalists, the research community, health care providers, community organizations, and the general public. 

OCPL staff include:

Health Communications Branch

• Jessica Harper, M.A., Branch Chief and Acting Deputy Director, OCPL
• Fedora Braverman
• Stephanie Morrison, M.P.H.
• Katie Murray
• Yuchabel Sanon

Media Relations Branch

• Ashley Negron, Branch Chief
• Robin Arnette
• Joe Balintfy
• Aimee Gogan
• Chris Thomas

Digital Media Branch

• Jordan Broderick, M.A., Branch Chief
• Kelly Ohaver
• Chip Rose, M.A.
• Derek Rebuck
• Reese Western

Office of Legislation, Policy, and International Activities (OLPIA)

Acting Director: Courtney Wallin, Ph.D., Acting Director, OLPIA

OLPIA serves as a liaison between NIA and several external stakeholders, including Congress, non-governmental organizations, and other federal agencies; provides analyses of policy activities and trends; collects and curates the NIA’s scientific advances; and manages international policy inquiries.

OLPIA staff include:

• Shanté Alerté, M.P.H.
• Jill Beaver, Ph.D.
• Brian Gray
• Elizabeth Prickett, Ph.D., M.S.
• Linda Yang, Ph.D.

Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation (OPAE)

Director: Samir Sauma, Ph.D., M.P.H..

OPAE supports the Institute’s planning, research categorization, portfolio analysis, program evaluation, and reporting activities.

OPAE staff include:

• Kate Nagy, Deputy Director, OPAE
• Melissa Espinosa
• Alyssa Tonsing-Carter, Ph.D., Team Lead
• Ching-Yi Shieh, Ph.D.