Fellow Rotarian, Janel Schermerhorn, is a recovering corporate manager who has spent the past decade serving her community in various capacities. As part of that work, Janel recently earned an MSc in Data, Inequality and Society from the University of Edinburgh. A topic that interests Janel is the Digital Divide—how differing abilities to engage with technology shape people’s opportunities and life outcomes. This led her to research digital exclusion among seniors in Redmond, including the barriers they face, their strategies for overcoming challenges, and the emotional and practical impacts of navigating a digital world. Her findings highlight themes of problem-solving, costs, and social connection, revealing how physical aging, generational differences, and a lack of institutional support post-retirement contribute to the divide. Janel concluded that even digital natives will ultimately face the divide.

Janel produced a podcast episode that shares personal stories of seniors adapting to digital change. The narratives reinforce the need for local governments to prioritize inclusive design, balancing the costs of accessibility with the often-overlooked financial, physical, and social toll seniors experience. Through her work, Janel hopes to inspire empathy and systemic solutions that bridge the digital divide.