Pauline S. Abbott, Ph.D., is the Director Emerita of the California State University Fullerton Institute of Gerontology. Her research interests include life-long learning and strategies for teaching older adults; life review and reminiscence; caregiving issues; and spontaneous social networks examining successful strategies that older women are creating to combat loneliness in age. She has presented this work at major conferences in the U.S. and internationally.

Dr. Abbott is a past president of the California Council of Gerontology and Geriatrics and in that capacity has developed and testified at a number of hearings of the California State Senate and Assembly committees on aging/long-term care. Dr. Abbott was recognized as the Shining Star of Education for 2006 by WomanSage, and by the Red Cross Association in 2003 for her work in aging.

Nancy Carman, M.A., C.M.C., is the Director of Marketing Services for New Life Management & Development, Inc., a national consulting firm that works with a variety of clients to develop, market, and manage continuing care retirement communities throughout the country. With more than 25 years in the field of aging, Nancy’s wealth of experience includes the creation and promotion of a unique hospital-based geriatric care management program, extensive senior focus group and support group work, successful grant writing, the development of age-sensitive training programs, and consulting in the senior housing industry.

She is a frequent speaker at state and national conferences addressing topics related to successful aging. A writer on important aging topics, Nancy wrote a monthly newspaper column, “Aging Well” for the Courier Post newspaper with a circulation throughout Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia for four years. For six years Nancy served as a board member for the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. She is a mater’s prepared gerontologist from the University of South Florida in Tampa and is a certified Geriatric Care Manager.

Jack Carman, F.A.S.L.A., President of Design for Generations, LLC, is a landscape architect specializing in the design and development of therapeutic gardens and landscapes for senior communities and healthcare facilities. Jack actively works to promote the design and development of therapeutic gardens through speaking engagements, audio-conferences, and contributing to the publication of technical papers. Jack is founder of the American Society of Landscape Architects Professional Practice Committee on Healthcare and Therapeutic Landscapes.

Bob Scarfo, M.L.A., Ph.D., received both a master of science degree in geography and a doctorate degree in social geography from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He also has a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Scarfo is currently an associate professor of landscape architecture at the Interdisciplinary Design Institute at Washington State University-Spokane. He specialized in serve learning projects that develop collaborative projects between diverse student and faculty groups and neighborhood organizations. Their focus on infill development aims to increase the potential of successful and productive aging while designing more sustainable, economically vital live, work, play, and learning environments.