Our Leadership Team

The SAGECare Leadership Team

members are national experts in LGBTQ+ aging.

Meet Our Leadership Team

Our Leadership Team

Christina DaCosta

Senior Director of Communications

Christina DaCosta's mission is to bring the voices of LGBTQ+ elders from the margin to the mainstream. She is responsible for all of SAGE's media work, including web content, social media properties and earned media. In the past year she has positioned SAGE in the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC News, NPR, and more.

Our Leadership Team

Sadiya Abjani

Director of Training and Instructional Design

Sadiya Abjani is the Director of Training and Instructional Design as well as a queer Muslim activist. She received her Bachelors in Islamic Studies and English from the University of Texas at Austin, where she spent time learning curriculum development and gaining expertise in training development and delivery.

Our Leadership Team

Karen Cushing

SAGECare Business Development Manager

Karen Cushing is the Business Development Manager for SAGECare. Karen’s responsibilities include reaching out to service providers who work with seniors and sharing with them the significance of SAGECare’s LGBTQ+ credentialing training. She is devoted to creating awareness for LGBTQ+ older people and believes in teamwork.

Our Leadership Team

Sherrill Wayland

Director of Special Initiatives

Sherrill Wayland is the Director of Special Initiatives, directing operations of SAGECare and the National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging. She has over 20 years of professional experience in the fields of education, disability, aging, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Our Leadership Team

Nicholas Watson

Managing Director of Social Enterprises

Nic Watson is the Managing Director of Social Enterprise for SAGECare. He is responsible for SAGECare’s growth and visibility of the SAGECare LGBTQ+ cultural competency training and credentialing through supporting the staff in their sales, marketing, and development efforts.