Claire Ghazal Nelson is a UC Irvine alumna, graduating with a bachelor’s of arts in Urban Studies. She continued her education at Portland State University, where she earned a graduate certificate in gerontology. While attending Portland State University, she began coordinating the gerontology program and managing the Senior Adult Learning Center (SALC). In 2021, Claire returned to UC Irvine to continue working in aging, starting at the UCI Alzheimer Disease Research Center, and then joining CFAR-DS in the summer of 2022. In her role, she serves as the center administrator, managing the operations of the CFAR-DS, and executive assistant to Co-Director Dr. Elizabeth Head.  She is furthering her graduate studies in gerontology. She has two fur babies.

Erika Lopez-Chung is a Contract and Grant Administrator for the Center for Aging Research in Down Syndrome. She comes to us from Western University of Health Sciences, where she spent several years managing the operational and administrative duties for the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and the College of Podiatric Medicine. As a UC Irvine alumna, Erika is delighted to return to her alma mater and contribute to this remarkable and groundbreaking research. When she isn’t working, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.