Maria Henke is the Senior Associate Dean of the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, the oldest and largest school of gerontology in the world, and serves as Co-director of the Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center. In her role, she oversees academic programs and student affairs and has led the expansion of innovative graduate programs in gerontology, long-term care administration, aging services management, medical gerontology, and senior living hospitality. Since joining the USC Leonard Davis School in 1987, Henke has focused on advancing gerontology education, including distance learning and professional education programs for working adults and corporate partners. She has authored and presented on innovation in gerontology education and has received multiple awards recognizing her contributions to teaching, leadership, and aging education.

Jenn brings extensive experience as a human services and gerontology educator and practitioner. She spent 20 years working in the long-term care industry. Jenn served as an adjunct Human Services faculty member for 13 years and as a self-study reader for the Council for Standards in Human Services Education. In 2015, Jenn was hired to lead the Gerontology – Aging Services Professional Program at Northwood Tech. In 2023, the Accreditation for Gerontology Education Council accredited the program. Jenn has a Ph.D. in Leadership and Gerontology from Concordia University Chicago. She has a Master of Science in the Administration of Human Services with a concentration in adult and aging services from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. She holds a certificate in Gerontology from Montgomery County Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the College of St. Scholastica, and an Associate of Arts degree from Waldorf University.