The National Caucus on Black Aging (NCBA) and SAGE are proud to announce the election of NCBA CEO Karyne Jones as Chair of the American Society on Aging (ASA), and SAGE CEO Michael Adams as ASA Chair-elect. Jones and Adams will assume their new leadership roles with ASA, the country’s oldest and largest association of professionals in the aging sector.
“I am honored to take on the role of Chair of the American Society on Aging at this critically important time for our aging sector,” states Jones, who will become the first African-American woman to lead ASA. “I am deeply committed to ensuring that ASA continues to be the essential resource to cultivate leadership, advance knowledge, and strengthen the skills of those who work with, and on behalf of, older adults,” she added.
Jones has led the NCBA since 2003, overseeing all operations of the only national organization devoted solely to providing effective leadership in making minority participation in aging services a national issue and priority. NCBA is one of the largest minority focused organizations in the country, and is recognized as the national leader in senior housing, employment, health and advocacy on behalf of minority seniors. Jones has been honored with the 2014 Washington Brava! Award by SmartCEO Magazine as a top Female CEO, and nationally recognized in Next Avenue Magazine 2016 Influencer in Aging.
“I see it as a great privilege to advance the essential work of the American Society on Aging by partnering with its outstanding new Chair, Karyne Jones,” says Adams. “Never has ASA’s work been more important than now, as we redouble our commitment to this country’s elders in the face of a rapidly aging population and growing doubts about our federal government’s bedrock commitment to older Americans,” he added.
Adams has served as SAGE’s CEO for more than ten years. Under his leadership, the scope of SAGE’s work on behalf of LGBTQ+ older people has grown tremendously. SAGE has become the national “go to” organization on LGBTQ+ aging issues, and an advocacy force at the federal level. Adams has twice been named one of the “100 most influential gay men and lesbians” by Out Magazine, and was featured as a 2016 Influencer in Aging in Next Avenue Magazine.
