Board Members

Dr. Laura Trejo (Chairman of the Board)
Dr. Laura Trejo’s four decades dedicated to public service include as founding Directorof the Los Angeles County Aging Disabilities Department, serving under three Mayoral administrations overseeing the City of Los Angeles Department of Aging, and as the first countywide Mental Health Clinical District Chief for Older Adults for Los Angeles County. She is currently dedicating her time and expertise to the Los Angeles Foundation on Aging, supporting worldwide efforts to combat social isolation and loneliness across the lifespan, and to local level advocacy as reflected in her work on the Los Angeles County Regional Coordinating Council on Aging and Disability.

Roberta Suber
Roberta Suber has over 35 years of experience in gerontology, healthcare and social work and nonprofit management. She retired from a management position with the former UniHealth healthcare system and its HMO, CareAmerica in 1999. Following retirement, she taught part-time in the Health Sciences Department at California State University, Northridge. She has been a volunteer consultant and management coach with the Executive Service Corps since 1999. Suber holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Elyse Salend
Elyse Salend, MSW is a program officer for the Cambia Health Foundation's Sojourns Program, which strategically targets improving palliative care services for those whose serious chronic illness. She manages project and initiatives regionally and nationally that improve the quality care.

Rigo Saborio
Rigo Saborio has 25 years of exzperience in the aging field. Mr. Saborio worked for eight years at AARP. HE first served as Manager of State Operations and then as Deputy State Director for AARP's CA-State office. He concluded his tenure at AARP as Director of Diversity Outreach and Alliances for AARP's National Office in Washington DC.

Donna Benton
Donna Benton. Ph.D. is a research associate professor of gerontology and director of the Family Caregiver Support Center at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.She is a member of the CA Coalition on Family Caregiving, Work Family coalition and the Elder Justice Coalition and continues to work on the CA Master Plan of Aging. She is leading the Center for Advancing Family caregiver Workplace and Financial Security.She has worked in the field of aging for over 30 years.Her volunteer experience with the Gray Panthers in high school inspired her career as an advocate for improving how we all view the natural process of aging. She is committed to promoting collaborative partnerships that enhance service delivery for families caring for older adults with long-term memory and health problems.

Dr. Monika White

Jodi Cohn
Jodi Cohn, Dr.P.H., is a gerontologist and public health professional who has worked in the field of aging and health for over 40 years. She received her doctorate in public health from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and her Masters degrees in urban planning and gerontology from the USC Andrus Gerontology Center. She retired in 2017 after serving 23 years with SCAN Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage Program. She was one of the founders of the first SCAN organization. Prior to SCAN she worked at the USC Andrus Gerontology Center and the UCLA Medical Center, developing programs for older adults.

Dr.Fernando Torres

In addition, the LAFA Board currently has one Ex-Officio Member:

Victor Pina
Los Angeles City Representative