People - CU Denver Change Makers
Program Director
Anne Button
Anne Button oversees the University of Colorado Denver Change Makers program as its founding director. Since 2022 she has had the privilege of working with CU Denver faculty and staff, as well as partners in the community, to develop this innovative program for adults in the second half of life to explore possibilities, retool, and renew their purpose.
Course Facilitator
Rachel Cohen
Rachel Cohen has a diverse background in teaching, community planning, and social work, with a focus on aging and nonprofit management, helping people and organizations find their purpose and work through difficult transitions.
She is the Executive Director of LinkAGES Colorado, an innovative organization that creates opportunities for meaningful intergenerational connections, and CEO of Aging Dynamics, a national consulting firm working with clients to build age-friendly and healthy communities.
Previous Guest Speakers (partial list)
Lisa Armao
Executive Director, Early Childhood Service Corps
Cynthia Barnett
CEO and Founder, Amazing Girls Science
Greg Burnett
National Operations and Program Director, Co-Generate Encore Fellowships
Jackie Davis
Speaker and marketing consultant
Jake Dresden
Director, A Little Help
Richard Eisenberg
MarketWatch columnist, podcaster, and "unretirement" teacher
Chris Farrell
Senior Economics Contributor, Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio
Samantha Farro
Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatrics, CU School of Medicine
Joyce Feustel
Founder, Boomers’ Social Media Tutor
Angelle Fouther
Principal, Kindred Communications
Marc Freedman
Co-CEO and Founder of CoGenerate
B Fulkerson
Lead National Organizer, Third Act
Jan Golden
Owner, Age-Friendly Vibes
Kerry Hannon
Senior Columnist, Yahoo Finance
Guadalupe Hirt
Pro-aging advocate and social impact leader
Paul Irving
Founding chair of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging
Dana Kirchmar
From Rocket Scientist to Advocate
Jeanette Leardi
Social gerontologist and author
Steve Leveen
Founder, American the Bilingual project
Todd Matuszewicz
From Waldorf teacher to Historic Preservationist
Damon McLeese
Executive Director, Access Gallery
Leanne Mersman
Manager of Volunteers, Spark the Change Colorado
Mary Ann McNair
Program Director at StoryCenter
Jesse Ogas
Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Community Affairs at 9NEWS
Yolanda Ortega
Actress, radio show host, community volunteer
Haley Sanner
Healthy Aging Program Manager, Colorado Health Network
Danielle Schulz
Associate Director of Lifelong Learning and Accessibility, Denver Art Museum
Mary Bryant Shrader
Author and online cooking school teacher
Jean Stracy
Owner, Blue Sky Celebrations
David Thomas
Professor of Play, Executive Director of Online Programs, University of Denver
Traci Townsend
Founder, Fitness with Traci
Janine Vanderburg
Director and Chief Catalyst, Changing The Narrative
Jodi Waterhouse
Director of Strategic Partnerships & Programs, CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging
Kate Weatherbee
Volunteer Manager, ECDC African Community Center of Denver
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox
CEO, 20-First
Community Partners
CMS Login