Commission on Aging

Dr. Barbara Walkosz is a Professor Emerita in Communication from the University of Colorado, Denver. She received her PhD from the University of Arizona. Barbara currently works part-time as a Senior Scientist at Klein Buendel, Inc., a health communication research firm. Her research interests include skin cancer prevention, media and digital literacy, and the creation of health education programs. She is currently working on a Peer Caregiving program that trains individuals who are incarcerated to provide care for their peers who are older adults and/or at the end-of-life.  She has served on the Commission for 4 years and contributes the Commission’s social media page.

Gina joined NextFifty Initiative in March 2021. She’ll lead the community engagement efforts to reach out to and with community leaders, partners, nonprofits, and diverse communities represented in Colorado, with an aim of increasing collaboration and deepening Next50 Initiative impact for all older adults and caregivers.

Gina’s career spans over 10 years in the field of aging and 20 years of experience in nonprofit development including building organizational capacity, fund development, board development, workforce development, and personal coaching. Gina has also worked at the national level throughout the US in program design, organization evaluation and strategic planning.

Gina is a graduate of Regis University with a B.A. in Business and Sociology; attended Colorado Christian University Master’s Program M.A. in Education specializing in Utilizing Technology for the Adult Learner. Gina also serves on several nonprofit boards and volunteers in the community.

Kristine Burrows serves as the Senior Specialist on Aging for the State of Colorado. Kristine has worked across the aging industry in non-profit, government, and higher education sectors. She holds her Master's degree in public health from the Colorado School of Public Health in leadership and healthy aging. Kristine has served on the Denver Commission on Aging since 2019. Kristine also sits on the board of the NextFifty Initiative and the Arapahoe County Board of Health. Kristine is passionate about bringing innovative and thoughtful solutions to the aging community by leveraging the strengths of older adults. 

Erin Burk-Leaver, MPH, MA Director of Public Health Interventions at Colorado Health Network, a statewide HIV/AIDS Service Organization, has worked in the field of gerontology for over ten years, dedicating her career to furthering the discourse around public health and aging, with a special emphasis on older people living with HIV (PLWH). As Director of Public Health Interventions, Ms. Burk-Leaver drives the strategic direction of all Community Engagement programs at CHN, including developing programmatic innovations, capacity, and infrastructure to support specialized community-based programs to support older PLWH, youth, and Latinx impacted by HIV across Colorado. Ms. Burk-Leaver also serves as the Principal Investigator for HRSA SPNS HIV & Aging Initiative (Demonstration Site), Commissioner on the City of Denver Commission on Aging, and Section Councilor for the American Public Health Association’s Section on HIV/AIDS. Ms. Burk-Leaver received her Masters of Public Health and Bioethics from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She is pursuing her Doctorate of Public Health at the University of Colorado School of Public Health in Aurora, Colorado.  

R. Tony Smith is a resident of Denver since 2000 and is a leader in creating meaningful relationships, allies and experiences by propelling people, organizations and causes. His specialties are event production, civic navigation, marketing and public relations. Tony has served the community via boards and Commissions including Colorado Festivals and Events and Association, Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs, Denver Parks and Rec Advisory Board, the LGBT Commission, and the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.

Chrissy Esposito is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Colorado Health Institute who conducts complex needs assessments, facilitation, and evaluation. She leads CHI's aging and long-term care portfolio. Her additional focus areas include environmental health and veterans' health.

She earned a master’s degree in public health from the Colorado School of Public Health at Colorado State University. While at CSU, Chrissy interned at the Geospatial Centroid, where she supported graduate students, professors, and unaffiliated clients working on geospatial projects. Her graduate research involved collaborating with the Boulder County Public Health Department and performing a retrospective spatial and temporal analysis of West Nile Virus in Boulder County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geography with a focus in geospatial and environmental analysis from Virginia Tech.

Jo Bunton Keel is a retired educator and a life-long artist. She received a Masters of Non Profit Management from Regis University and a Masters of Education from Lesley University. In addition to being the founder of Eulipions, Inc, a cultural institution in Five Points (1983-1997), during her 20 years with Denver Public Schools, Jo served as a Humanities Facilitator, an Instructional Coach, and an Assistant Principal.  While at the University of Northern Colorado, she directed the Marcus Garvey Center, became an interim AA/EO Director and was an adjunct Professor at the Lowry Campus, Center for Urban Education.

Presently working as a dedicated Sr. Manager of Audit & Compliance at Amazon, my professional journey is deeply intertwined with a commitment to fostering ethical practices and social equity. With over two decades of experience across diverse industries and cultures, my work is not just about ensuring compliance; it’s about building systems that enhance the well-being of our communities. Born into a persecuted migrant family from Bangladesh and raised in Kolkata, India, I understand the importance of creating opportunities and support structures that allow every individual to thrive, especially our aging population.

Holding Master's degrees in Accounting, Finance (MBA), and Business Analytics from the University of Denver, and as a Chartered and Cost Accountant, I leverage my expertise to contribute meaningfully to public policy-making and community development. My involvement with the Denver Commission of Aging is driven by a passion to create sustainable solutions that ensure our elders live with dignity and joy.

As a parent of two, my life’s purpose is to help build a world where future generations can prosper, grounded in strong cultural values and a commitment to giving back to society. My role is not just a profession but a mission to make a lasting, positive impact on our society.

Anna DeRocchi is our Program Coordinator in the Office on Aging and the staff liaison for the Commission on Aging. Her passion for working with older adults was ignited when she began working as a caregiver at an assisted living facility throughout her college years, which led Anna to study Human Development and Gerontology at Colorado State University, where she also collaborated in the AgingPLUS research study.

Anna landed an Advocacy Internship with the Alzheimer's Association in Rochester, NY. During her time there, she worked to bring awareness to the community and State Officials.  

Following college graduation, DeRocchi worked as a Resident Service Coordinator for the Nonprofit Rochester Management Inc. Later, she became a Social Services Coordinator/Navigator at Frasier Meadows Retirement Community.