AARP Foundation Leadership

Jo Ann Jenkins is AARP Foundation's President. Ms. Jenkins provides leadership across the Foundation areas of development, litigation and impact program areas. 

With more than 25 years of extensive leadership, management, planning and business experience, Ms. Jenkins is well-known in the governmental, philanthropic and private sectors. She came to the AARP Foundation from the Library of Congress, where she was its chief operating officer.  There, she managed a staff of more than 4,000 and an operating budget of more than $600 million. As the second-in-command at the Library, she regularly testified before various congressional committees, worked with Members of Congress and staff to enhance the Library, its exhibits and collections, and served as the Library’s official spokesperson.

Jo Ann is recognized for launching innovative, dynamic and far-reaching initiatives, including spearheading the new “Library of Congress Experience.” Her efforts generated more than $20 million in fundraising to underwrite this ground-breaking program. In addition, the project garnered several national and international awards, solidifying Jo Ann’s reputation as a recognized leader who brought transformational change to one of America’s oldest and beloved institutions.

Deborah Armenti is Vice President for Operations, charged with setting strategic direction and overseeing the work of three logistical programs:  Technology, Communications and Shared Services and Integration.  Working with a team of specialized program directors, she will oversee the provision of first-class operational, contracting, technological and marketing support for AARP Foundation initiatives.  For the past two years, Deborah has served as Senior Manager of National Operations for the AARP Tax-Aide program which supports 35,000 volunteers across 6,500 sites, serving 2.6 million people.  Prior to joining AARP Foundation in 2009, she served as Vice President of Partner Marketing and Access Division Operations at AOL Inc., a global internet services and media company.  Deborah brings over 20 years of experience building and managing complex, cross-functional business operations and teams, and has an outstanding track record of developing strong, multi-departmental relationships and transforming operating practices in both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Stuart (Stu) R. Cohen is the Foundation’s SVP for Legal Advocacy leading a team of 13 litigators who advocate nationwide for the rights of people 50 and older, addressing diverse legal issues that affect their daily lives, and assuring that they have a voice in the judicial system.  The team provides support for cases involving employment discrimination, employee benefits, housing, consumer issues including financial fraud and utility issues, health and long term care and public benefits.  Prior to coming to AARP in 1999, Stu spent 25 years providing civil legal services in New York, Maryland and New Jersey.  He was Executive Director of Camden Regional Legal Services in New Jersey and Chief of Litigation of the Legal Aid Bureau in Maryland.  Stu is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Law and Michigan State University.  He currently serves as Board Chair of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law.

Phyllis L. Kim serves as the Senior Vice President, Grants Administration Program for the AARP Foundation.  Phyllis is charged with overall operational and strategic direction of  grant programs, including oversight and establishment of program outcomes, implementation strategies, policy development, operational support, evaluation of program impact and effectiveness, and budget oversight and management.  She will be working collaboratively with the Chief Development Office to provide leadership in the building and targeting of grant proposals, and plays a pivotal role in the strategic direction and oversight of the Tax Aide and Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) which are the largest grant-funded programs managed by the Foundation.   Prior to joining the AARP Foundation, Phyllis served as both the Deputy Executive Director and Interim Executive Director of the PBS Foundation (PBSF) where she provided strategic vision, leadership and management of PBSF’s development strategies and activities. Phyllis brings extensive experience in leading global initiatives and managing complex public/private partnerships. Her background includes holding senior level positions in public media, newspaper and communications organizations, and teaching at the university level. She began her career in philanthropy, working for The Commonwealth Fund in New York in grants management. She is a graduate of the University of Florida, Gainesville, with a BS in Journalism and Communications with an emphasis in public relations.  Phyllis is fluent in Chinese (Cantonese) and Spanish.

Patricia (Trish) Shannon serves as the Foundation’s SVP for Strategic Planning and Finance and is also Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for managing a strong, transparent, effective fiscal program that drives high impact programs while strategically allocating limited resources.  Part of her duties under the new structure will include building and overseeing the design and implementation of strategic planning and financial management initiatives that support our four focus areas.  In her new role she will lead Foundation wide efforts to consistently and effectively promote a culture of effective risk management and excellence in governance.  She holds a BS in Accounting and Economics, and an MBA.  Over the past 25 years she has held key financial management and operational leadership positions in both national and international for-profit and non-profit organizations.  Trish has a passion for working to improve the lives of others.  Throughout her career she has worked to promote best practices and effective solutions to business problems in order to create efficiencies and streamline operations for greater program impact. 

David Whitehead, SVP for Development,  provides leadership, direction and coordination for all AARP and AARP Foundation fundraising strategies and activities that enable the Foundation to support its charitable programs, as well as advocacy, public policy, education and outreach priorities sponsored by AARP.  The newly-restructured program he leads is responsible for direct response programs, gift planning and major gifts, and philanthropic, sponsorship and cause marketing efforts aimed at securing commitments in excess of $1 million.  David works in partnership with the President of AARP Foundation and AARP Leadership to create and implement sound fundraising plans that beneficially advance common goals and strategic priorities.  Prior to joining AARP, David served as chief development officer for The Nature Conservancy where he led the Campaign for Conservation, raising $1.4 billion over 5 years.  He also led fundraising efforts for Special Olympics, Inc., the largest organization in the world supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities.  He is a recognized leader in the non-profit sector with over 23 years of fundraising experience with regional, national and international organizations.