Staff
Assistant Director
Iris Aguilar, MSPA
In 2007 Ms. Aguilar joined the institute to oversee all administrative functions, provide support and leadership in the development of projects as well as lead community outreach activities. With more than 15 years in the field of aging, she has developed a track record for establishing and sustaining strong partnerships with community groups and has experience in research project management, program development, and support group and focus group facilitation. She has been a consultant to agencies such as St. Barnabas Senior Center, American Bar Association's Commission on Law and Aging and the Alzheimer's Association, conducting Spanish translations and providing technical assistance in the development of Spanish bilingual/bicultural projects. Ms. Aguilar holds a vocational nursing license, a bachelor's degree in social work and a graduate degree in public administration.
Research Editor
Vincent Lim, MEd
Prior to joining the Royal Institute, Mr. Lim served as an editor and a web producer for the UCLA International Institute, where he developed content for the UCLA Terasaki Center and AsiaMedia websites. He also currently serves as a contributor to Asia Pacific Arts, which is published by the USC U.S.-China Institute in cooperation with the USC East Asian Studies Center and the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.
Mr. Lim is keenly interested in the uses of new media technologies to inform and educate people about issues of societal concern. At the Roybal Institute, he hopes to help bridge the gap between academic knowledge about the issues surrounding aging and the public understanding of those issues. In addition to creating and curating content for the Roybal Institute's website including the Daily News Briefings, he contributes to various marketing communications projects as a writer, editor, designer and photographer.
Technical Grant Writer
May Ma Ross, MSW
Ms. Ross has more than 15 years of experience in the grant-making community and working in nonprofit organizations that provide a wide range of community services. She spent more than five years as director of development at Chinatown Service Center, a multi-faceted health and human service agency with an annual budget of more than $5 million. Ms. Ross has also served as director of resource development and public relations at the Long Beach Day Nursery (LBDN). Following LBDN, Ms. Ross joined First 5 LA, an organization with an annual grant-making budget of more than $200 million, as a program officer. There, she supervised the Family Literacy Initiative and worked closely with grantee organizations. She evaluated programs, provided technical assistance, reviewed grant proposals and made funding recommendations. In addition to her professional career, Ms. Ross is an active community member, serving on the grant committee for the Los Angeles affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She has also served on the boards of and held advisory positions with several nonprofit organizations.