News Release

Senior Leadership Initiative Class of 2011 Graduates

June 2, 2011

The UNC Institute on Aging recognized its most recent class of Senior Leaders at a ceremony and reception held on May 24, 2011 at Carol Woods Retirement Community. The featured speaker was Maria F. Spaulding, Deputy Secretary for Long Term Care and Family Services with the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

Senior Leaders are appointed for one year, and during that time they develop leadership skills, participate in leadership projects, and participate in training. Each Senior Leader develops an individualized plan and volunteers and partners with an organization such as an aging services provider, local planning organization, or aging advocacy organization.

Bill Lamb, Public Services Lead at the UNC Institute on Aging, recognized each of the Senior Leaders and their accomplishments. Lamb hopes that the benefits of the program extend into the future, saying, “Today we’re recognizing the accomplishments of the past year, but my hope is that these folks will take what they learned in this program and continue applying it to real world issues impacting older adults in North Carolina.”

The Senior Leader Class of 2011 included:

• Trudy Atkins
• Janet Harrison
• Margie Rose
• John Wasson
• Shirley Wiggins
• Jim Wikle

The Senior Leadership Enhancement Initiative is sponsored by the IOA with support provided by AARP-NC, the NC Association on Aging, and the NC Association of Area Agencies on Aging and recognizes the importance of older adult leadership in addressing issues affecting senior citizens.  For more information on the Senior Leadership Initiative, please visit the website:  http://www.aging.unc.edu/seniorleaders/