GLEN ALLEN, VA, September 14, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jennifer Yanez Pryor, MA, MS, LALFA, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Yanez Pryor's career is distinguished by a steadfast commitment to advancing gerontology education and leadership. Since 2019, she has served as graduate program director for the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she provides administrative and program leadership. In this capacity, Ms. Yanez Pryor oversees academic programs, guides curriculum development and teaches courses in healthcare management and human resource management. Her expertise in healthcare management, senior living administration, program improvement, and quality improvement has been instrumental in shaping the department's direction.
Among her most significant achievements is the creation of the assisted living administration concentration within Master of Science in Gerontology degree. Recognizing a critical need for formalized training in this area, Ms. Yanez Pryor aligned the curriculum with the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrators Board's academic accreditation standards. This effort culminated in 2016 when the program became the first in the nation to earn NAB accreditation specifically for assisted living administration. Under her continued leadership, the concentration has maintained this distinction for ten consecutive years, remaining the only program of its kind to graduate specialized leaders in assisted living administration.
In 2023, Ms. Yanez Pryor expanded her reach by co-hosting the Aging for All podcast under the Virginia Center on Aging at Virginia Commonwealth University. The podcast, which follows the academic calendar and is entering its third season, serves as a platform to engage the broader community and raise awareness about aging-related issues. Through thoughtful discussions and expert guests, Ms. Yanez Pryor uses this initiative to connect with listeners beyond the classroom and highlight services relevant to a wide audience.
Her faculty role at Virginia Commonwealth University began in 2017 and continues alongside her other responsibilities. From 2021 to 2024, she also served as director of service learning for the Bachelor of Science in Health Services program, further contributing to student development through experiential learning opportunities. Earlier in her career, Ms. Yanez Pryor was the training coordinator and manager on a grant funded by the Virginia Department of Social Services administered through the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond from 2011 to 2017, where she managed training initiatives supporting senior living professionals statewide. Her initial appointment with the university began as a research assistant in the Department of Gerontology from 2011 to 2012.
Throughout her professional journey, Ms. Yanez Pryor has cultivated deep expertise recognized by peers and industry organizations alike. She maintains active membership in several prominent associations, including various committees of the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards where she works toward improving the quality of educational programs for long-term care and senior living administrators nationwide. Her involvement extends to the American College of Health Care Administrators—where she has presented at annual conferences for several consecutive years—as well as LeadingAge Virginia, and the Virginia Assisted Living Association. Other memberships include the Academy of Management, and the Society for Human Resource Management.
Ms. Yanez Pryor's educational background has been foundational to her accomplishments. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in health services organizations and research at Virginia Commonwealth University with an anticipated graduation later this year. She earned a Master of Science in gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012 after completing a Master of Arts in psychology from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg in 2011. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Hollins University in Roanoke, which she earned in 2009.
In addition to her academic credentials, Ms. Yanez Pryor holds a license as an assisted living facility administrator, which she maintains to ensure her teaching remains relevant for students preparing for careers in senior living administration. Although she chose not to practice directly under this license, she continues to mentor students who pursue similar paths.
Mentorship has played a pivotal role throughout Ms. Yanez Pryor's life and career trajectory. She credits faculty members from her academic programs, current colleagues, and past leaders and supervisors with shaping her approach to leadership and teamwork. Their guidance encouraged her to embrace new opportunities and take bold risks, while she refined her own leadership style through observation and collaboration.
Ms. Yanez Pryor's civic engagement includes serving as a regulatory advisory panel member for the Virginia Board of Long-Term Care Administrators, where she contributes insights on policy changes impacting administrator licensing statewide. Her professional excellence was recognized when she was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Virginia in 2023—an honor she considers a career highlight that reflects both her personal dedication and her sustained national service on NAB committees.
She is also an active presenter at industry events such as those hosted by the American College of Health Care Administrators, sharing expertise with peers across multiple forums.
Outside her professional commitments, Ms. Yanez Pryor resides in Richmond with her husband and their two younger sons. Their oldest son, having recently graduated from college, resides in Northern Virginia. The family enjoys spending time outdoors together on outings to museums and parks, or exploring nature through hiking and, recently, whitewater rafting adventures. They also enjoy traveling to and exploring new and exciting locations. She finds relaxation in reading good books or watching movies with the family during quieter moments.
Looking ahead, Ms. Yanez Pryor aims to expand access to graduate education in gerontology by dismantling traditional barriers to entry through strategic initiatives such as exploring how to increase scholarship funding and evolving the curricula to be even more reflective of the diverse career pathways students pursue today. She remains committed to extending education beyond university walls through community outreach initiatives such as her podcast, which she plans to scale further to deliver vital aging resources and insights to a broader public audience.
Her lifelong passion for working with older adults—first sparked during high school employment at an assisted living community and her natural gravitation toward being surrounded by older adults—continues to drive her vision to empower future leaders across sectors that intersect across generations.
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