Our Team

Karl Pillemer, Ph.D. is the Hazel E. Reed Professor of Human Development at Cornell University and Professor of Gerontology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He is the founder and Director of the Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging. In that role, he works to develop interventions that translate research findings into practical programs that increase quality of life for older people. His research centers on human development over the life course, with a special emphasis on social integration in later life.

A main area of research interest is the relationship between aging and environmental sustainability. His current research examines the causes and consequences of environmental civic engagement and volunteerism among older people, with a focus on developing and evaluating new methods of training and recruiting retirees for environmental leadership and action on climate change. He has published over 200 scientific articles and is the recipient of the Maxwell Pollack Award from the Gerontological Society of America.

Mark Lachs, M.D., M.P.H., graduated medicalschool from NYU School of Medicine and completed his residency at theUniversity of Pennsylvania and was on the faculty at Yale before joining thegeriatrics program at Cornell’s Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine.Dr. Lachs is the Irene and Roy Psaty Distinguished Professor of Medicine at theWeill Cornell Medical College and Co-Chief of Geriatrics and PalliativeMedicine, and the Director of Geriatrics for The New York Presbyterian HealthCare System. His major area of interest is the disenfranchised elderly, and hehas published widely in the areas of elder abuse and neglect, adult protectiveservices, the measurement of functional status, ethics, and the financing ofhealth care.   

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Chloe is the Associate Director of the Cornell Institute for Research on Climate and Aging (CIRCA), where she leads initiatives to advance research, policy, and community action at the intersection of climate change and aging. She oversees interdisciplinary projects focused on building climate resilience among older adults and fostering collaborations across academia, government, and community organizations. With a background in landscape design, international agriculture, sustainable food systems she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work. She earned her B.S. in Development Sociology from Cornell University where she focused on health equity and sustainable design.

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Marie Cope, MPH, MSW is a Research Support Specialist for the Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging (CITRA). Her background is in public health and social work, including prior work developing and implementing community programs. Ms. Cope’s current work focuses on the dissemination of innovative, evidence-based intervention programs in aging.

Sheri Hall is a experienced communications professional who loves to tell stories that make a difference in people lives. Her work has been published in newspapers, magazines, and on websites.

Frances McMillan is the Communications Associate for the CIRCA. In this role, she creates content for social media to educate adults over age 60 on disaster preparedness and the benefits of environmental volunteering. She is dedicated to demystifying climate topics and advocating for the preservation of our natural environment through community engagement, storytelling, film, writing, and graphic design. With a background in regenerative agriculture, she is also passionate about strengthening local food systems to ensure everyone has access to climate-friendly, affordable, and nutritional produce. She holds a BA in Public Health from Denison University.

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