Welcome to New AARP Kansas Staff Member

Edith Gaines, Topeka, has been selected to serve as the Senior Operations Associate for the AARP Kansas State Office.

“We are so pleased that Edith agreed to join our state team,” said Glenda DuBoise, AARP Kansas State Director. “She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership skills that will be a huge asset in our efforts to make life better for all Kansans as we age.”

Before joining AARP Kansas, Gaines worked at the Shawnee County Health Department in Topeka serving as the Finance and Administrative Division Manager since 2015.  She was also the Incident Command Finance and Administrative Deputy Section Chief, Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) Accreditation Coordinator, Chair of the Racial Equity Impact Analysis Group, and Chair of the four county NE Kansas Electronic Health Record System collaboration.

Gaines received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Mobile and her Master’s in Public Administration from Troy State University. She also earned a Master’s in Accounting and Financial Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University and is currently working on her Ed.D in Instructional Design and Performance Technology from Baker University.

Gaines was recently elected the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated State of Kansas Treasurer and appointed the Midwestern Region Audit Committee Chair. She is also an associate in Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH).

Gaines has also served as a committee member for the NE Kansas Government Finance Officers Association; the Kansas Public Health and Medicaid Advisory Workgroup; the Greater Topeka Partnership’s Minority and Women’s Business Development Council; the KDHE Healthy People 2030 Steering Committee; and the Kansas Governor’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Taskforce.