Alva S. Baker, M.D.
Director, The Center for the Study of Aging
Vice President/Medical Director, Episcopal Ministries to the Aging (EMA), Executive Director of the Copper Ridge Institute.
Dr. Baker, a certified geriatrician, has been medical director for EMA since 1980 and has previous experience in private practice.

Baker began working with EMA as the medical director for Fairhaven in 1980, and he currently serves as vice president for Health and Wellness Services.

Baker was engaged in the private practice of medicine in Westminster until 1994, when, concurrent with the opening of Copper Ridge, he began working full time for EMA. He is a member of the American Geriatrics Society and the Southern Medical Association.

He is a certified medical director and a member of the American Medical Directors Association and will serve as its president in 2007. Baker has certification in hospice and palliative medicine and is an associate medical director for Carroll Hospice. He serves on the Executive Council for the Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County, and he has been a member of the medical staff of Carroll Hospital Center since 1972. Baker earned his M.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and his B.A. from McDaniel College.

Diane Martin, Ph.D.
Academic Director, The Center for the Study of Aging
Before joining the faculty at McDaniel, Dr. Martin held teaching posts in aging, psychology and behavioral sciences at York College, Penn State-York and Harford Community College. She formerly served as Research Program Coordinator at The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The author of several academic presentations and publications on aging, Dr. Martin earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Northcentral University, an M.A. in Experimental Psychology from Towson University and a B.A. from The College of Notre Dame in Baltimore.

Barbara H. Leasure, M.A.
Director of Education and Compliance, Carroll Lutheran Village
Ms. Leasure holds a M.A. in Gerontology from Edinboro State University of Pennsylvania and has been a member of the Carroll Lutheran Village staff since 1997. With 30-plus years experience in the field of aging and as a college instructor with McDaniel since 2000, Ms. Leasure adds a “real world” perspective to her instruction.

Richard Krebs, Ph.D.
Dr. Krebs is a retired clinical psychologist and Lutheran pastor and is fortunate to have been a student at the University of Chicago when “gerontology” was being “born.” He is the author of numerous articles and books, some of which will be used in his coursework. Dr. Krebs brings vast experience in working with older adults from both of his careers and skillfully weaves information and insights with theory and humor.