Leadership Team

Sarah Rosso (They/She) is the Executive Director of Hugh Lane, and brings 15+ years of experience serving the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities in Western Pennsylvania. Sarah has implemented and overseen programs addressing LGBTQ+ barriers to health including DEI training, legal services, mental health services, housing, case management, and food and hygiene pantries. Sarah works with lawmakers to address pressing LGBTQ+ issues, serving on the state of Pennsylvania’s Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and the City of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ Commission; as well as the PA COVID Equity Committee, Allegheny County COVID Equity Task Force, and the Allegheny County’s Healthy Families and High Quality Human Services Policy Committee. Sarah was a 2019 Pittsburgh Magazine 40 under 40 honoree and was named one of Pennsylvania’s top 100 leaders, in the PA Pride Power 100. Sarah’s educational background includes a BA in Cultural Studies & Psychology, an MA in Leadership & Organizational Transformation, and a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Promotion.

Sarah is a national expert in LGBTQ Child Welfare specializing in supporting providers as they improve practices to better serve LGBTQ+ individuals, traveling the country facilitating trainings for the Human Rights Campaign’s “All Children All Families Training Program”, offering capacity building and coaching on a range of topics for child welfare professionals and caregivers. Sarah adapted AFFIRM National’s LGBTQ+ Youth intervention for parents and caregivers, and piloted the training in Allegheny County as “Caregiver AFFIRM.” Together with AFFIRM, Sarah co-wrote the training manual AFFIRM Caregiver Implementation, now used nationally. Sarah initiated Hugh Lane contracts with Allegheny and Washington Counties to train foster parents in LGBTQ+ competency, using Caregiver AFFIRM.

contact: sarah@hughlane.org

J. Coley Alston (They/Xe) is the Program Director of the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation. Coley is an expert in supporting LGBTQ+ youth and has led innovative youth initiatives in various roles over the past 6 years. They believe in using data to drive change in policy and culture. Coley oversee’s evidence-based programming for youth, caregivers, and those who serve them, including the AFFIRM Youth and AFFIRM Caregiver interventions; as well as Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention trainings. Coley adapted the AFFIRM Youth intervention for digital implementation to support LGBTQ+ youth remotely during an isolated time.

Coley’s educational background includes a BS in Natural Sciences and a Masters in Public Health with a certificate in LGBT Individuals’ Wellness from the University of Pittsburgh. Coley was inspired to pursue an MPH degree due to the health disparities experienced by Black LGBTQ youth and families and has dedicated their work to improving outcomes and implementing systemic change.  

Jule Arney (Xe/They) is the Director of Training & Research at Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation. Xe graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BA in Psychology, with studies focused in prejudice, discrimination, and public policy. Jule has developed and facilitated LGBTQIA+ trainings and workshops for a wide variety of industries and audiences for more than 15 years. Xe also served as Vice Chair of the City of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council 2017-2019

Keisha L. McToy (She/Her) is the Director of Strategic Operations at Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, after serving over nine years at another LGBTQ+-focused health center in Central Pennsylvania, where she was instrumental in its physical and programmatic expansion. Keisha is an experienced operations professional with a decades-long history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. She has a strong drive for diversity, equity, and inclusion, making every effort to centralize the voices and lived experiences of the most marginalized communities within the LGBTQ+ population.  

Now entering her second term serving on the PA Governor’s Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, Keisha plans to use her skills to increase daily awareness of our bias(es), show up as an intersectional ally for our communities, advocate for state policies that protect us instead of punish, and work toward legal paradigm shifts. In addition to being a professional, Keisha is also a spouse, parent (of a human and three cats), servant leader, and an involved community member who will continue to fight for all individuals to live their authentic lives: out, proud, and in color.

Ashley Durham (She/Her) is the Outreach and Communications Manager at Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation. She is a graduate of Westminster College with a BA in Broadcast Communications and has worked in Pittsburgh as a media specialist and writer in recent years. She has an extensive background in video and audio production along with photography and film in the worlds of education startups and brand experience. Ashley brings her skills in content creation and project management to Hugh Lane’s marketing and social media efforts along with general community outreach. She also continues her love of journalism as the Lead Blogger for True T PGH, an organization that provides Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community with content centered around celebrating and uplifting BIPOC voices.