Larry Polivka, Ph.D.
Former Executive Director
Executive Director of the Claude Pepper Center and Scholar- in- Residence with the Claude Pepper Foundation. His primary research centers on critical aging issues including long-term care, affordable health care, and economic security for America’s elderly population.
Lori Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Research Faculty III
Dr. Gonzalez’s research includes uncovering alternatives to traditional nursing home care including the Green House Project and the Program of the All Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
Kacey Heekin, J.D.
Former Research Associate
Kacey Heekin, J.D. interned at the Claude Pepper Center. Her research focused on mental health policy. She graduated Sum Cum Laude from Florida State University’s College of Law in 2019. She’s currently an Associate at Nelson Mullins where she focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and health law.
Monica Laughlin
Business Manager
Monica Laughlin joined The Claude Pepper Foundation, Inc. in 1993 and the Claude Pepper Center in 2005. Ms. Laughlin has provided business management support in the areas of project management, financial management, human resource and administrative support.
Former Research Volunteer
LuMarie Polvika-West joined the Florida State University Claude Pepper Center in October 2015 as a Sr. Research Associate (volunteer) after retiring from 23 years with the Florida Health Care Association.
Lisa Rill, Ph.D.
Former Researcher
Dr. Lisa Rill received her Ph.D. in Sociology at Florida State University with a specialization in health and aging. Her research includes quality of life in long-term care, aging in place, labor force issues, staff training requirements, pain management, person-directed care, nutrition, nursing home risk scores, Medicare/Medicaid, aging prisoners, and trends among older voters.
Glenn Mitchell, Ph.D.
Former Director of the Data Center
Dr. Glenn Mitchell is the former director of the Claude Pepper Data Center. Currently, he is faculty at FSU’s College of Medicine where he specializes in research and statistical methodology, health services research, and program evaluation.
Aras Aziz
Former Media Specialist
Mr. Aziz has a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Florida State University and over ten years of experience working with Non-Governmental Organizations and foreign governments. He currently works for FSU’s Sponsored Research.
Alex Smith
Former Filmmaker
Alex Smith produced content for the Claude Pepper Center for 6 years. Using his experience in film-making, Alex adapted research conducted at the Claude Pepper Center into short documentary pieces to disseminate the most important topics to the public.