advisory board

John Bernard is a new member of our Older Adult Community Advisory Board. He joined the Board after participating in a lab research project. John is a retired machinist who enjoys watching the National Geographic Channel and sports in his free time.

Sharon Burnside is a St. Louis native who has been a member of our Older Adult Community Advisory Board since 2015. Her research interests include Black women’s health and research on Alzheimer disease in the Black population. In her free time, she likes traveling and visiting museums and antique shops.

Mary Carroll has been a member of our Older Adult Community Advisory Board for about three years. She joined the Board after hearing about us through Visiting Nurse Association of St. Louis. Mary is the mother of five children. She graduated from Visitation Catholic School and earned her associate’s degree from St. Louis Community College—Forest Park. She worked at Saint Louis University and in public health before retiring. Her favorite activity is playing bingo.

Jane Conte has been a member of our Older Adult Community Advisory board since 2016. Before retiring, Jane was a research coordinator in the Participation, Environment & Performance Lab. Her research interests are in falls, predictors of Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. In her free time, she likes to travel, learn Italian, read and exercise.

Ida Ford has been a member of the Older Adult Community Advisory Board since 2016. Ida is a mother of seven children. She owned her own clothing boutique businesses in New York and St. Louis. In her free time, Ida enjoys spending time with family.

Gwen Grayer has been a member of our Older Adult Community Advisory Board for about two years. Gwen learned about the Lab when we did a study at her apartment building. Gwen started her family early and began working as a room attendant, eventually working her way up to director of housekeeping. She enjoys music, participating in our Community Advisory Board meetings, and she used to knit; she would also like to get back to jogging/walking without pain.

Margaret Jackson has been a member of our Older Adult Community Advisory Board for two and a half years. She learned about the Lab when we did a research study in her apartment building. She is from South City and went to Marshall East Central High School. Margaret enjoys crafting, sunbathing, and watching TV and movies.

Mary R. Johnson is a lifelong St. Louis resident and has been a member of our Older Adult Community Advisory Board for two years. She joined the Board after participating in a lab research study at her apartment building. Before retiring, she worked in laundry and cleaning. She enjoys doing puzzles, watching TV and going on walks.

Dr. Donna Jones recently joined our Older Adult Community Advisory Board after participating in one of our studies. Dr. Donna has degrees in organization communication, social work administration, and ethics and leadership development. She worked for 20 years in organizational management and community outreach consultation in New York and St. Louis. Dr. Donna enjoys training leaders how to be stronger ethically.

Marolyn Keshner has lived in St. Louis for her entire life and has been a member of our Older Adult Community Advisory Board for one year. Her sister was a Board member, and she was asked if she would like to join. Mary went to school to become an X-ray technician and worked for 30 years. She enjoys spending time volunteering.