#USAgingHere4You: Olivia Umoren
Olivia Umoren joined USAging in January 2023 as Director, Public Policy and Advocacy. In her role, Olivia directs the association's legislative affairs and advocacy efforts to advance federal policies that address the needs of an aging America, plays a vital role in the development of USAging's policy priorities, and represents USAging in meetings with congressional staff and administration officials.
Prior to joining USAging, Olivia was a Government Affairs Manager at the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs and then a Federal Affairs Manager at the National Committee for Quality Assurance where she supported the organization's efforts related to quality measurement, health plan accreditation and health equity. She first got into the aging field when she was in college.
“My first introduction to aging was when I worked as a Dietary Aide in college at a State College, PA, nursing home. There I had the opportunity to get to know the residents and also hear some World War II stories from some of the residents who either fought in the war or were nurses. After graduating from Penn State, I moved back home to Boston and got my first full-time job as a Clinical Research Coordinator supporting Alzheimer's disease research at Mass General.”
In her current role, she represents USAging in congressional meetings, member meetings/conferences and stakeholder conferences where she presents the organization's policy priorities, advocacy efforts, the current federal policy landscape and guidance on how to be a strong advocate. She also supports the policy team by staying in the know about the Older Americans Act, writing regulatory comment letters and responses to congressional RFIs, and supporting the development of USAging's policy positions.
Since starting at USAging, Olivia has most enjoyed connecting with and getting to know our members. She's learned a lot about the role of AAAs and has found that USAging's policy team is unique in engaging with Congress while also having close relationships with our members who share the challenges (and wins!) they are experiencing at the local level.
“As a health policy professional, I'm hoping to support USAging's policy priority of integrating health care and social care by identifying opportunities for the Aging Network to be at health care tables and prioritized in health care spaces. My hope is that my efforts in collaboration with our policy team can lead to positive and effective change that creates a less siloed system for both sides.”
Outside of USAging, Olivia is a competitive volleyball player, playing every week in the DMV. She's also a musician who has played the piano for more than 20 years and played the clarinet as a teenager. Her favorite movies are Coming to America, Sarafina! and The Lion King.
USAging's Public Policy and Advocacy Team
Amy E. Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, agotwals@usaging.org
Olivia Umoren, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, oumoren@usaging.org
Seth Ickes, Public Policy Associate, sickes@usaging.org
Prior to joining USAging, Olivia was a Government Affairs Manager at the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs and then a Federal Affairs Manager at the National Committee for Quality Assurance where she supported the organization's efforts related to quality measurement, health plan accreditation and health equity. She first got into the aging field when she was in college.
“My first introduction to aging was when I worked as a Dietary Aide in college at a State College, PA, nursing home. There I had the opportunity to get to know the residents and also hear some World War II stories from some of the residents who either fought in the war or were nurses. After graduating from Penn State, I moved back home to Boston and got my first full-time job as a Clinical Research Coordinator supporting Alzheimer's disease research at Mass General.”
In her current role, she represents USAging in congressional meetings, member meetings/conferences and stakeholder conferences where she presents the organization's policy priorities, advocacy efforts, the current federal policy landscape and guidance on how to be a strong advocate. She also supports the policy team by staying in the know about the Older Americans Act, writing regulatory comment letters and responses to congressional RFIs, and supporting the development of USAging's policy positions.
Since starting at USAging, Olivia has most enjoyed connecting with and getting to know our members. She's learned a lot about the role of AAAs and has found that USAging's policy team is unique in engaging with Congress while also having close relationships with our members who share the challenges (and wins!) they are experiencing at the local level.
“As a health policy professional, I'm hoping to support USAging's policy priority of integrating health care and social care by identifying opportunities for the Aging Network to be at health care tables and prioritized in health care spaces. My hope is that my efforts in collaboration with our policy team can lead to positive and effective change that creates a less siloed system for both sides.”
Outside of USAging, Olivia is a competitive volleyball player, playing every week in the DMV. She's also a musician who has played the piano for more than 20 years and played the clarinet as a teenager. Her favorite movies are Coming to America, Sarafina! and The Lion King.
USAging's Public Policy and Advocacy Team
Amy E. Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, agotwals@usaging.org
Olivia Umoren, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, oumoren@usaging.org
Seth Ickes, Public Policy Associate, sickes@usaging.org