Who We Are

Catheryn Koss, JD, PhD, Principal Investigator

Catheryn Koss is Associate Professor of Gerontology at Sacramento State University. She teaches courses on aging policy and research methods. Her research interests include planning for diminished capacity, end-of-life decisions, guardianship / conservatorship, and elder abuse. More information about her research and publications is available on her ResearchGate profile.

She earned her BA in Anthropology from Smith College, her law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law, and her PhD in Gerontology from the University of Kansas. Prior to entering academia, Catheryn was the founder and Executive Director of the Senior Law Resource Center, a non-profit legal services organization based in Oklahoma City. As an elder law attorney, she assisted clients with estate and diminished capacity planning, handled guardianship cases, and represented elder abuse victims in civil lawsuits. 

She is actively involved with the Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging, the Gerontological Society of America, Area 4 Agency on Aging, and the Sacramento County Adult and Aging Commission.

Leanne Dawson, Research Assistant

Leanne Dawson is a Gerontology major at California State University, Sacramento. She will complete her Bachelor of Science degree in Spring 2025. She has served as a care provider for older people for over 30 years and hopes to go into the field of health promotion and prevention.