Spectrum Awards

The Spectrum Awards ceremony recognizes Washington University students, staff, and faculty, and St. Louis community members who live and lead authentically and perform direct advocacy and service to LGBTQIA* communities. These awards celebrate many forms of LGBTQIA* leadership, including artistic expression, trailblazing activism, academic exploration, dedication to education, demonstrated commitment to intersectionality, relationship- and bridge-building, and emerging leadership.

Any member or organization of the Washington University community and/or Saint Louis community, past or current, is eligible to receive the award. This includes undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni/ae, retirees, friends of the University, and community members. Self-nominations are also permitted. To nominate an individual for multiple awards, please submit this form once for each award.

The Spectrum Awards are comprised of seven awards that celebrate different types of contributions to LGBTQIA* leadership:

Gloria Anzaldúa Advocacy at Intersections Award

This award recognizes an individual who shows great commitment to advocating at intersections of LGBTQIA* identities, as well as illuminating and supporting the diversity of individuals within LGBTQIA* communities.

Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award

This award recognizes an individual committed to using their academic work for the empowerment of LGBTQIA* communities and individuals. This award particularly seeks to honor individuals who exemplify leadership through self, bringing themselves into their academics and using academics as a space for personal exploration and community development.

Frida Kahlo Creative Arts Award

This award recognizes an individual who uses creative art to explore LGBTQIA* identities, issues, and experiences. This award particularly seeks to honor individuals who exemplify leadership through self, bringing themselves into their artwork and using the arts as a space for personal exploration and community development.

Bayard Rustin Bridge Builder Award

This award recognizes an individual who helps forge connections and build authentic spaces within LGBTQIA* communities through a people-centered approach. Such work may occur through individual or group collaboration as well as various forms of organizing and engaging within our communities.

Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award

This award recognizes an individual who takes action in the face of injustice and stands up for their ideals. The award seeks to honor the trailblazing work from which future positive change may be made.

Compton’s Cafeteria Emerging Leader Award

This award recognizes an individual, particularly a first- or second-year student, whose leadership and advocacy for LGBTQIA* communities shows great promises for future developments.

James Baldwin Committed Educator Award

This award recognizes an individual who has shown great commitment to raising awareness of various LGBTQIA* issues and educating community members for the benefit of all.

WUPAN Leadership development Award

Candidates for this award can either be members or active allies to the LGBTQIA+ community. Applicants selected for this award will successfully demonstrate an outstanding commitment to their leadership growth while a student at Washington University. They also will be able to convey the importance of this award to successfully continuing their holistic growth as a leader. (This award can be awarded to a group of current students or alumni who collaborated on a community impact project or event.)

Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award
Savannah Henderson (she/her)
Violet Walker (she/her)

Compton’s Cafeteria Emerging Leader Award
Jesse Harris (he/him)
Eric Lei (he/him)

Bayard Rustin Bridge Builder Award
Dr. Anthony Dao (he/him)
Pat Banker (they/them)

James Baldwin Committed Educator Award
Kayla Arenschield (they/them)
Izzy Yanover (they/them)

Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award
Emille Taylor (she/her)
Maya Phelps (she/her)

Frida Kahlo Creative Arts Award
Dee Cea (they/them)
Bo Schmit (he/him)

2021 Honorees

Ranen Miao (he/him)

receiving the Gloria Anzaldúa Advocacy at Intersections Award is an undergraduate student at the College of Arts and Sciences

Marc Ridgell (they/them)

receiving the Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences

Elizabeth Fuchs (she/her)

receiving the Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award is an Assistant Professor in the Brown School of Social Work

Lawton Blanchard (she/her)

receiving the Bayard Rustin Bridge Builder Award is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences

Braxton Sizemore (they/them)

receiving the Compton’s Cafeteria Emerging Leader Award is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences

Carter Scott (he/him or they/them)

receiving the Compton’s Cafeteria Emerging Leader Award, is a medical student at the Washington University School of Medicine

Mia Hamernik (she/her)

receiving the Freida Kahlo Creative Arts Award is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences

Savanah Low (They/She)

receiving the James Baldwin Committed Educator Award is a graduate student in the Brown School of Social Work

2019 Honorees

EZRA HESSEL

receiving the Gloria Anzaldúa Advocacy at Intersections Award is a graduate student at the Brown School of Social Work

KRIS WILSON

receiving the Gloria Anzaldúa Advocacy at Intersections Award, is an undergraduate student in the Brown School of Social Work

DR. PETER HOVMAND

receiving the Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award is a Professor of Practice with the Brown School of Social Work

ILIA SILVERMAN ESRIG

receiving the Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award is a graduate student in the Brown School of Social Work

BRAVEHEART GILLIANI

receiving the Bayard Rustin Builder Award is a graduate student at the Brown School of Social Work

MARK FERNANDEZ

receiving the Bayard Rustin Bridge Builder Award is a undergraduate student in the McKelvey School of Engineering

NIA PLUMP

receiving the Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award is a undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences

DR.TONYA EDMOND

receiving the James Baldwin Committed Educator Award is a faculty member at the Brown School of Social Work.

JAKE BJORK

receiving the James Baldwin Committed Educator Award is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences

ST. LOUIS QUEER+ SUPPORT HELPLINE (SQSH)

receiving the WUpan Leadership Development Award

2017 Honorees

• Gloria Anzaldúa Advocacy at Intersections Award
  Alejandro Martinez
  Christian Sandoval
  Dr. Kara Blackwell-Sternhell
• Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award
  Jaime Swank
  Patrick DeSouza
• Frida Kahlo Creative Arts Award 
  Ricki Pettinato
• Bayard Rustin Bridge Builder Award 
  Stephanie Weiskopf
  Jackie Feldman
  Olivia Beres
• Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award 
  Emi Wyland
• Compton’s Cafeteria Emerging Leader Award 
  Gabby Jung
  Nicole Lashley-Simms
• James Baldwin Committed Educator Award
  Sara Burton
  Caroline Nore

2016 Honorees

• Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award
  Elizabeth Sepper
• Frida Kahlo Creative Arts Award
  Camille (Mimi) Borders
  Rachel Youn
• Bayard Rustin Bridge Builder Award
  Reuben Forman
  Christina Johnston
• Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award
  Elayna Levin
  Fajer Saeed
• Compton’s Cafeteria Emerging Leader Award
  Christine Montero
  Monica Sass
• James Baldwin Committed Educator Award
  Katie Chew
  Ivan Aguirre Darancou
  Erin Klein

2015 Honorees

• Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award
  Vanessa Fabbre
  Vanessa Fabbre is a licensed clinical social worker and assistant professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. She received her PhD from the University of Chicago where her dissertation, “Gender Transitions in Later Life,” explored issues of gender, identity, and aging. Prior to completing her doctoral studies, she served as the Coordinator of Older Adult Programs at Rush University Medical Center. She also worked as a psychotherapist at the Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ center. She is currently a co-convener of the Rainbow Research Group, a formal interest group of the Gerontological Society of America. Vanessa’s research explores the intersection of LGBTQ issues and gerontology, focusing specifically on transgender and queer perspectives on aging and the life course. At the Brown School she teaches courses in social justice and human diversity, direct social work practice with older adults, qualitative research methods, and social, economic and political environment.
• Compton’s Cafeteria Emerging Leader Award
  Katy Chang
  Katy Chang is a sophomore majoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology, and serves as the current external co-president for the Pride Alliance. Katy served as the social chair of the Pride Alliance during the spring semester of her freshman year, and was the recipient of the Excellence in Leadership Award for Outstanding Freshman Leader. She is also a local St. Louisan, with a passion for drinking tea and eating ice cream.
  Alex Rhodes
  Alex Rhodes is a senior at Washington University and a Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major and Writing minor. She is a facilitator for Open,
  a mentor for Connections*, and was a Peer Leader for this year’s Destination Q. Alex also works with the Humanities Digital Workshop’s Gender Violence Database focusing on reading LGBTQIA* related journals. Alex hopes to get her Masters in Social Work after graduation and to continue working in the community. She is from San Diego, California and wants to eventually make her way back to the West Coast.
• Frida Kahlo Creative Arts Award
  Shannon Levin
  Shannon Levin is a junior at Washington University majoring in Communication Design and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. She is the president of WashU’s Art School Council and is an active facilitator and executive member of SafeZones, an LGBTQIA* peer education group that has driven her to challenge common conceptions of gender expression in her own artwork. An aspiring illustrator and graphic designer, Shannon strives to empower her audience to be bold, proud, and embrace their self-expression. She hopes to use her ability to communicate through art as a tool to effect social change and contribute to increased visual/media representation of marginalized groups across gender identity, race, and sexual orientation. Shannon would like to thank her Corgi-Daschund, Dewey, for always providing support along the way.
• Bayard Rustin Bridge Builder Award
  Fabian Barch
  Fabian Barch is a senior at WashU and co-president of both Flavors and Connections*. During his time at WashU Fabian has also spent 3 years on Pride Alliance’s executive board as the Public Relations chair, Activism chair, and External co-president, respectively. Outside of the student groups he serves, Fabian has maintained a consistent commitment to community engagement and support.
  Josh Sills
  Josh Sills is a third year law student at Washington University School of Law. Last year, Josh was a Co-President of OUTLaw, the law school’s organization for LGBTQ students and allies. This year, Josh is a student member on the university-wide LGBT Advisory Board. During the past two years, Josh helped plan the Midwest LGBTQ Law Conference, an annual gathering of law students and practitioners focused on exploring the state of LGBTQ rights and specifically those of historically marginalized groups within the LGBTQ community. Josh plans on returning to New York after graduation to begin his legal career.
  Jesse Yang
  Jesse is a fourth-year student and Danforth Scholar from Columbus, OH studying Marketing and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies. A facilitator for Open and a peer leader for Destination Q, Jesse strives to create safe spaces for LGBTQIA* individuals on campus through peer-led support networks. They are interested in building accessible support for survivors of sexual violence, particularly among queer people of color. Jesse is deeply grateful for the opportunities that their family, the LGBTQIA* and sexual violence prevention communities have granted them here at WashU and in St. Louis.
• James Baldwin Committed Educator Award
  Del Chassaing
  Del is a senior at WashU graduating in Economics and Healthcare Management, with a minor in Italian. They serve as external Co-President of SafeZones this year, and have served as Public Relations Chair, Secretary, and Training Chair in the past. Delia was born in Paris and moved to D.C. when she was ten. She speaks French, German, Italian…and a little English! They love practicing yoga and cooking (well, mostly eating, really!), and they are often spotted (eating) with their partner Ari and their dog Winston. They are extremely honoured to be a part of the WashU LGBTQIA* community, and to be sharing this evening with so many fellow classmates, friends, mentors, and community members.
  Don Strom
  Don Strom has served as Chief of Police at Washington University for nearly 16 years and has been in the law enforcement profession for 38 years. Don has served previously as a Deputy Director/Inspector General for the Illinois Secretary of State Police and as the Police Chief of Carbondale, IL. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, The FBI National Academy, and the Southern Police Institute Command School. Don has served as the past chairman of the St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association. Don has committed to building a safer campus for LGBTQIA communities by having all WUPD staff SafeZones trained; supporting the implementation preferred names on WUSTL ID cards; and working with the community to develop and implement a departmental policy for interactions with transgender individuals. Don lives in O’Fallon, MO with his wife Chris and they have four children.
• Gloria Anzaldúa Advocacy at Intersections Award
  Karisa Tavassoli
  Karisa Tavassoli is a senior undergrad from Atlanta majoring in Anthropology and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies. Throughout their time on Wash U’s campus, they have found avenues of community building and resistance work through WUSLam (WashU’s spoken word poetry group), the Association of Mixed Students, Mr. Wash U, People Like Us, Students for Justice in Palestine, and St. Louis Students in Solidarity. In addition, they are currently serving their second year as an RA, and are working with a team of people organizing the second annual Midwestern Queer and Indigenous People of Color conference that will be held this Spring. They are interested in too many things to keep this bio brief, but tried to sum it up in three words: art, activism, and revolution.
  Jordan Victorian
  Jordan Victorian is a junior at WashU and helps coordinate for +PLUS: People Like US. They have worked with students on campus through various efforts like SafeZones, Student Group on Race Relations, The Men’s Project, and the South 40 gender-inclusive housing initiative. Currently, Jordan is a Mellon Mays fellow studying non-monogamy among people of color. In the future, they hope to continue working toward liberation by pursuing a Master of Social Work and becoming a licensed sexuality counselor, as well as doing further research toward a doctorate degree.
• Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award
  Cameron Kinker
  Cameron Kinker is a senior from Rye, New York double majoring in Anthropology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. They have served on the as president of SafeZones and as a part of the Faculty/Staff SafeZones committee. Currently, Cameron is working on their Civic Scholars Project and Senior Honors thesis on the topic of transgender health in the St. Louis region. Cameron hopes that the project, titled “Contextualizing Transgender Health Care: Meanings, Experiences, and Future Hopes,” will increase the visibility of trans people in the local health care system and lead to higher levels of life-saving gender-confirming care.

2014 Honorees

• Trenton Ellis, Jae DeBerry, and Cassie Parks are seniors at Washington University in St. Louis, and are the Student Coordinators of Connections*, a newly forming peer mentorship group. Trent is majoring in Environmental Earth Science with a minor in Drama, and has been an active member in the queer community at WashU since his first year. Along with Connections*, he is a member of Pride Alliance, SafeZones, and +PLUS, and is currently participating as a Peer Leader for Destination Q. Cassie is majoring in Biology on the Neuroscience track and is minoring in Music. She has found a welcoming family in WashU’s queer community since the beginning of her undergraduate career, and is thankful for the opportunity to be giving back to a group of people who have helped her so much. Jae is involved in Pride Alliance and is a Leader for the Destination Q retreat this year. She has a passion for the LGBTQIA* community and is excited for the rest of the year. She will be attending optometry school in Memphis, TN at Southern College of Optometry next year.
• Shruti Desai is an associate director in Residential Life (shout out to the RAs, RCDs, and the whole res life team). She has served as a member of the LGBT Advisory Board and currently has the honor of serving as chair. She tries to serve the community by building bridges and connecting folks to build community as well as having the hard challenges about identity and privilege. Shruti hails from the great city of Atlanta and currently lives in University City with her incredible partner Evie and their two beautiful dogs Zoe and Zelda.
• Tyler Hackmann is a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Mathematics. On campus, he serves as a residential advisor in the Thomas Eliot Residential College, is a brother in Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, serves as a student ambassador for the Restorative Practice committee, a liaison to the Social Justice Center, and is a member of NASPA’s National Undergraduate Fellowship program. In his roles on campus he makes diversity, inclusion, and social justice topics of regular discussion, and seeks to advocate for subordinated identities in all spaces. Tyler looks forward to a fulfilling career in student affairs.
• Morgan is the founding director of the Missouri GSA Network, a student driven youth leadership development organization that networks high school, middle school and college GSAs. Morgan’s background is in social justice movements including working nationally on issues of economic justice and transportation equity through workforce development for minority contractors. After returning home to Missouri, Morgan started organizing with the Safe School’s Coalition building partner organizations and running a statewide campaign for safer schools. When Morgan is not organizing with the GSAs they do consulting for The Trevor Project, the national suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ Youth as well as a few local non-profit organizations in Missouri. Morgan credits much of their success to their loving partner Jason, who just last year received the award. Morgan loves playing with their black lab Julie, designing funky furniture, running around, hosting dinner parties and exploring a great thrift store.
• Rory P. O’Brien is a graduate of Willamette University and a candidate for the master of social work and master of public health programs at the Brown School. Since arriving on campus, Rory has co-chaired OutLook, actively participated in OUTgrads, worked with GBTQ youth groups at Project ARK, and helped to plan a safe and sober youth-oriented space at Pride St Louis. Currently, Rory is conducting research on bibliotherapy, which may enhance the cultural competency of social workers. Rory works at the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Office of Sexual Assault and Community Health Services, both of which provide opportunities to work with LGBTQ student groups. Next summer, Rory and partner, David, will say goodbye to their apartment in the Central West End and leave for new opportunities on the East Coast.
• Trevor Joy Sangrey is an assistant dean in the College of Arts & Sciences at Washington University and teaches in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program. Holding a PhD in the History of Consciousness from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Trevor’s work engages media history, education, critical race studies, and gender studies, through a focus on social movements. For the past two decades Trevor has worked in Queer and LGBT communities, particularly on youth self-determination and Trans* issues. On campus, Trevor currently serves as the Chair of the Faculty and Staff SafeZones committee of the LGBT Advisory Board.
• Reuven Shechter is a senior studying English Literature and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies. He is currently the Social Chair for Pride Alliance and has served as Secretary and Internal Co-President in the past. He serves as a student representative on the LGBT Advisory Board and Health and Wellness Committee, and worked on the Mosaic Project, including the Bias Report and Support System. Reuven is a facilitator for SafeZones, a peer mentor for Connections*, and was a Peer Leader for Destination Q this year. He also serves as a Treasury Representative, acting as a voice for underrepresented groups on campus. Reuven’s family lives on the East Coast in New York and New Jersey, including his mother, father, stepfather, stepmother, brother, and stepsisters.
• Matt Viggiano is a graduate student in the Washington University School of Engineering from Livingston, New Jersey, pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science degree. He also completed his undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in May 2014. As an undergraduate, he served on the executive boards of SafeZones and Open, as well as helping to start Connections*. He is currently working as the Graduate Assistant for LGBT Student Involvement and Leadership working with Christine Dolan. In this role, Matt has worked to promote communication between undergraduate LGBTQIA*-focused student groups, hosting round tables for the leaders of these groups to collaborate and share ideas. He has also continued to serve on the LGBT Advisory Board and the Faculty/Staff SafeZones Committee as a graduate student, as well as helping to advise Open and Connections*.

2013 Honorees

• Georgia Binnington is associate dean of students at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. As such she advises all first year students in art and architecture. She has been on staff for 25 years and just celebrated her 50th reunion at Washington University. Georgia was on the committee that created the position for LGBT coordinator on campus and has played a role in the annual Lavender Recognition Ceremony since its conception. Georgia and her partner Alice were together for 35 years before Alice’s death in 2011. Georgia has two children and five grandchildren.
• KC Cortinovis Friedrich is Associate Director of Alumni Relations, Class and University Programs. KC grew up in the shadow of Washington University in St. Louis and after living in New York and Boston, she returned home in 2008. During her five years with Washington University, she has coordinated numerous programs and events including alumni reunions, affinity groups, and the travel program. KC is part of the LGBT Advisory Board and is the staff liaison for the Washington University Pride Alumni Network (WUPAN), the newly formed LGBT alumni group. She lives in University City with her husband, Gordon, and two daughters, Anna and Lilly.
• Brian Clark is a Senior majoring in Physics with minors in Economics and Mathematics. On campus, he serves as a Residential Advisor in the Thomas Eliot Residential College, is a brother in Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, gives interviews and tours for the Admissions Office, conducts research in astroparticle physics, and was recently selected for the NASPA National Undergraduate Fellowship program. In his roles on campus he makes diversity, inclusion, and social justice topics of regular discussion, and seeks to advocate for subordinated identities in all spaces. A native of St. Louis, he is an avid lover of historical nonfiction and baroque era piano music, and looks forward to a fulfilling career in either Astrophysics or Student Affairs.
• Danielle Greene is a senior at WashU, double majoring in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and Psychology. As a devoted president and exec member of SafeZones, she has dedicated countless hours to raising awareness and facilitating conversations about LGBTQIA issues across campus. Further, Danielle’s presence extends to the larger St. Louis community, as she has worked at PROMO to encourage Missouri communities to pass LGBT protections in employment and public accommodations. Additionally, her senior honors thesis, which explores and contextualizes queer people’s dildo use, emphasizes her commitment to expanding knowledge about the LGBTQIA community.
• Jason Heisserer, EdD, is the principal of Hixson Middle School in the Webster Groves School District. As a school leader, he works to design learner-centered spaces that are safe, inclusive, just, and equitable. In addition to his work as a principal, Heisserer facilitates and supports the social justice work and learning of other teachers and leaders in the St. Louis area and occasionally serves on dissertation committees at the University of Missouri-St. Louis for doctoral candidates writing about social justice in schools. He has presented both locally and nationally on the norming effects of school and on issues related to the sexual and gender identities of students. Heisserer has chosen to be explicitly out for all 18 years of his service in public education and works to support other LGBTQIA* professionals in their educational settings as well.
• Kayla Potter is an Advanced Standing MSW Candidate at the Brown School with an individualized concentration in Social Justice and Human Diversity, focused on working with LGBTQ populations. She is set to graduate this December. Kayla currently serves as a co-chair for Outlook, the Brown School’s LGBTQ student group; and is a Program Intern for the National Conference for Community and Justice of Metro St. Louis. Prior to attending the Brown School, Kayla served as an AmeriCorps Member for two years with AmeriCorps St. Louis, where she engaged in shelter coordination, service programming, conservation work, and disaster response. She lives in South St. Louis with two wonderful housemates.
• Ellie Spitz, BS is a second-year master’s candidate in social work, where her studies focus on clinical mental health and sex therapy. Ellie completed her undergraduate work in Human Development and Family Studies with minors in Sociology and Jewish Culture and Society at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While studying at Washington University, Ellie has attended AASECT Summer Institute, rallied for LGBT* inclusive policies with PROMO, facilitated for Anytown and various NCCJSTL programming, and is currently a practicum counselor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Ellie is in her second year as the LGBT* Graduate Fellow for Student Involvement and Leadership where she has helped LGBT* undergraduate and graduate students find support and community. Ellie is looking forward to graduating this upcoming May and hopefully finding a career in Chicago.
• Pax Yarrows is a senior majoring in Women, Gender, and Sexualities Studies with minors in Philosophy and Creative Writing. Pax has been a facilitator for Open for the past 2 years, where they have enjoyed fostering community and facilitating important discussions about identity. They also helped found Transcending Gender, which played a large part in the campaign for gender inclusive restrooms at WashU. Additionally, they have served on the SafeZones executive board as New Educator Coordinator, lead the workshop “Holey Matrimony: Queering the Marriage Debate” at the 2013 Midwest BLGTA College Conference, and co-founded WashU Feminists United. They are looking forward to pursuing post-graduate opportunities that allow them to continue working with LGBTQIA communities.

2012 (Fall) Honorees

• Jill E. Carnaghi: Jill received her PhD in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University, has a master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Michigan State University, and completed her undergraduate work in human development at Purdue University. Jill E. Carnaghi, PhD is Associate Vice Chancellor for Students/ Dean of Campus Life and works most closely with staff and students within the Community Service Office, Danforth University Center & Event Management, Student Involvement and Leadership, Student Union, and Interfaith Campus Ministries Association. She also serves as four-year academic advisor and is a member of the Campus Y Board, LGBT Advisory Board, and Gephardt Institute for Public Service Steering Committee. Jill has been very involved in a myriad of leadership positions within ACPA, American College Personnel Association, including President and Senior Scholars Program. She and Peter Magolda (editors) are completing the second edition of Job One: Experiences of New Professionals in Student Affairs (2013).
• Brian Carpenter: Dr. Carpenter is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on psychotherapy and aging. He also directs a research laboratory that focuses on family relationships later in life. Brian received a BA from Williams College and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Case Western Reserve University. After a clinical internship at the New Orleans Veterans Affairs Medical Center, he completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania and the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This is his 13th year at Wash U and his third year living with his partner, John, as a Faculty Fellow in the Eliot Residential College.
• Ashley Fox: Ashley Fox is a senior from Nashville, Tennessee majoring in Political Science with minors in Public Health and African & African American Studies. She is the current Vice-President and former Political Affairs Chair of the Association of Black Students (ABS) and a former member of the Washington University Mock Trial Team. Through her positions within ABS, Ashley has worked as an ally to rebuild the organization’s relationship with Pride Alliance by organizing an LGBT student panel for the ABS general body, facilitating intergroup dialogue on shared issues and histories, and working on several collaborations to host speakers for joint events. In planning this year’s ABS General Body Retreat, Ashley also incorporated the retreat’s first sexuality discussion and mini-training on gender binaries and inclusivity facilitated by Pride Alliance advisor Saida Bonifield. She has served for the past three years as a mentor and academic tutor through the student-run Learning to Live Mentoring Program and is now a resident advisor to sophomores. As a 2009 Summer Scholar in Biology & Biomedical Research, she has conducted clinical and laboratory research at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and hopes to pursue a career in policy and public service with a focus on healthcare and public health.
• Nate Lucena: Nate Lucena, MA, is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, where his research focuses on the cognitive neuroscience of aging. Nate completed his undergraduate work in Psychology and Sociology at Centenary College of Louisiana before earning a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from the College of William and Mary. While studying at Washington University, Nate has been funded by the Psychology Department’s Aging and Development training grant from the National Institute on Aging and by a Computational, Cognitive, and Systems Neuroscience fellowship. Nate is in his second year as President of OUTgrads, and has served on the LGBT Advisory board and the leadership committee for the Psychology Graduate Student Association. He also takes an active interest in communicating science to the public, volunteering at science outreach events in conjunction with the St. Louis Science Center and at public schools in the St. Louis region.
• Jeanette Mott Oxford: Jeanette Mott Oxford is Executive Director of Missouri Association for Social Welfare, a 100+-year-old citizen advocacy organization working to improve the health and welfare of all the people of Missouri. She was State Representative for a portion of the City of St. Louis from 2005-12. She served as Vice Chair of the House Ethics Committee and as Ranking Minority Party Member on the Children and Families Committee as well as being a member of additional committees mainly focused on tax reform, energy and the environment, financial institutions, and retirement. Jeanette and her partner of almost 28 years, Rev. Dorothy Gannon, a hospice chaplain, have lived in the St. Louis City since 1987. Jeanette has been an advocate, educator, writer, and organizer on issues of poverty, health, housing, racism, sexual orientation, and campaign finance reform in Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri for more than 30 years. She is remembered by many for her work as executive director of Reform Organization of Welfare (ROWEL) from 1991-2000.
• Jenea Nixon: Jenea Nixon is a senior at WashU and will be graduating this May 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She has been involved with Pride Alliance since 2010 and has served as the External, then Internal co-President of the organization since 2011. Jenea has been a Residential Advisor for Lee/Beaumont for the past two years and plans to continue working in Higher Education and Student Affairs in graduate school and beyond. The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators recently accepted Jenea to their Undergraduate Fellows Program and she looks forward to continuing her passion for social justice and equitable inclusivity with their help. During her time at WashU, Jenea has attended Leadershape, the Social Justice Training Institute, the Midwest BLGTA College Conference, and Destination Q, among other things, and is currently involved with the Social Justice Center on campus. She served on the Executive Board of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students and, before becoming an RA, was a Residential Peer Health Educator for Park/Mudd. During her summers, Jenea stays involved with political organizations such as Planned Parenthood and PROMO in St. Louis. She has greatly enjoyed all of these opportunities to be involved, as well as meet amazing people that have undoubtedly affected her course through life.
• Wolf Smith: Wolf Smith is a third-year student at WashU double majoring in Psychology and Gender and Sexuality Studies. He has served as the Social Activism Chair of Pride Alliance, during which time she re-imagined Pride’s annual Trans* Awareness Week, and went on to help found the student group Transcending Gender. As co-facilitator of this trans* support and activism group, he has worked on the gender inclusive restrooms initiative, served as student representative to the LGBT Advisory Board and the Faculty Safe Zones committee, and encouraged more awareness of trans* identities within WashU and the LGBTQIA community. As a member of the LGBT Anti-Violence Task Force in St. Louis, she works to encourage understanding the importance of LGBTQ identities within sexual/domestic violence communities. He has also interned with Pride St. Louis, during which time she temporarily served as Interim Volunteer Coordinator, and The Spot, where he now works to improve and teach their sexuality education program for gay and bi young (aged 13-24) men in St. Louis.
• Susan Stiritz: Senior Lecturer for the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, Susan Stiritz is best known for “Introduction to Sexuality Studies,” a course she designed and first taught at Washington University in the fall of 2006 in hopes it would attract a larger following to the study of sex/gender topics on campus. Professor Stiritz is the author of “Cultural Cliteracy: Exposing the Contexts of Women’s Not Coming” (2009); co-author, with Law Professor Susan Appleton, of “Sex Therapy in the Age of Viagra: ‘Money Can’t Buy Me Love’” (2011); and co-author, with Jonathan Branfman, of “Teaching Anal Pleasure: Challenging Gender Norms with ‘Prostage’ Education” (2012), articles examining social constructions of human sexuality and their implications for social justice. She teaches six sexuality studies courses, including a service-learning class, in which WGSS majors teach feminist sexuality education to fraternity members. She is a Sexuality Educator Certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, and she serves on Washington University’s LGBT Advisory Board. Currently researching synergies between neoliberalism and hooking up, she lives with her three dogs and partner, Bill, in the Skinker-DeBaliviere area. Four children and eight grandchildren live out of town.

2012 (Spring) Honorees

• Kathy Brock: Kathy Brock, PhD, is a psychologist and Assistant Director of Mental Health Services at Washington University. She supports Washington University’s LGBT community by providing queer-affirmative counseling services to students, as well as training and consultation to student organizations. She also provides compassionate support and education to parents of LGBT students during WashU’s annual parents’ weekend. She has published and presented articles aimed at helping therapists to better serve LGBT college students. She volunteers for HealthRight International evaluating asylum seekers who’ve been persecuted on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. These days, her primary form of activism involves talking to 3- to 6-year-olds (and their parents) about why her kids have two moms.
• Vinita Chaudhry: Vinita Chaudhry is a sophomore from Hunt Valley, Maryland. She is in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Anthropology with a minor in Public Health. She is co-president of internal affairs of Pride Alliance, one of WashU’s LGBTQIA organizations. She also is a member of Mosaic Whispers, an a cappella group, for which she also serves as secretary. In high school, Vinita served as co-president of her school’s Gay-Straight Alliance for three years and worked with the Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network (GLSEN). Vinita looks forward to doing more work with LGBTQIA and human rights activism.
• Andrea Friedman: Associate Professor of History and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies at Washington University, Professor Friedman is author of Prurient Interests: Gender, Democracy and Obscenity in New York City, 1909-1945 (Columbia, 2000) and is currently writing a book about race, gender and citizenship in the Cold War U.S. She teaches courses about the history and politics of gender and sexuality in the U.S., including Intro to LGBTQ Studies, Queer Histories, and Gender & Sexuality in 1950s America. She lives in south St. Louis with her partner Marsha, their sons Oscar and Corey, and four dogs.
• Brook McKeown: Brook McKeown is a senior from Baltimore, Maryland studying Chemical and Energy Engineering. During her time at Washington University she has served in leadership roles for Open, Safe Zones and the Congress of the South 40. She has also been involved with Engineers Without Borders and the LGBT advisory board. Future plans include pursuing a career in alternative energy and taking life one day at a time.
• OUTLAW: OUTLAW is an educational, political, and social alliance of law students interested in working with their university and the surrounding community toward fostering and maintaining an environment that is supportive, positive, and safe for individuals of sexual and gender diversity. In striving for a greater understanding of sexuality and gender issues at the law school and within the affiliated communities, OUTLAW aims to address the legal issues associated with sexual and gender diversity and provide resources and support for social activism.
• Ezelle Sanford III: Ezelle Sanford III, from Charlotte, North Carolina, is a senior studying Anthropology and Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the chair of the Diversity Affairs Council of Student Union and former facilitator for Open, an LGBT coming out group. He is also a Residential Assistant in the Thomas Eliot Residential College. Furthermore, he conducts independent research on the institution of the Black Hospital from 1950 to 1970 as a Merle Kling Undergraduate Honors Fellow and for his Senior Honors Thesis.
• Sherrill Wayland: Sherrill Wayland, MSW worked 12 years in the fields of disability advocacy and education. In 2004 Ms. Wayland became actively involved in GLBT equality issues including the 2004 Missouri Marriage Amendment, PROMO, & was a founding member and secretary of the Gateway Stonewall Democrats, which led to her desire to use her professional advocacy skills within the GLBT community. Ms. Wayland returned to academia and received a Master of Social Work degree in 2008 from the Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, where she used this time to research GLBT aging issues and started the St. Louis GLBT Aging Task Force. Upon graduation, Ms. Wayland became the founder and current executive director of SAGE Metro St. Louis (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) and co-authored the article, “Older gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults: Tools for age-competent and gay affirmative practice” which was published in the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Service. Ms. Wayland resides in St. Louis, MO with Kim Kopff, her life-long partner of 17 years.

2011 Honorees

• Leon Braxton (Dieta Pepsi). As Dieta Pepsi, Braxton has been active in the St. Louis LGBT community for more than 25 years. Braxton serves on the boards of the LGBT Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis, Pride St. Louis, SAGE Metro St.Louis and St. Louis Effort for AIDS. Braxton developed the “I Care!” campaign last year as a personal response to the national publicity around LGBT youth suicides.
• Mark Brostoff, associate dean and director of the Olin Business School’s Weston Career Center. Brostoff has been nationally recognized as a speaker for LGBT workplace issues. He was awarded the Weston Career Center Gold Medal for Out for Work awards in 2010 and 2011. Brostoff has researched and delivered numerous presentations aimed at preparing students for the workplace, including extensive work with the LGBT community.
• Ayla Karamustafa, senior majoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies in Arts & Sciences. Karamustafa has been a strong advocate for queer and female students throughout her undergraduate career, serving as a leader in numerous campus organizations,including Safe Zones, Pride Alliance, V-Day and WashU Students for Choice.
• James D. Reid, PhD, senior lecturer in psychology in Arts & Sciences. In 1998, Reid developed and began teaching what was then the only semester-long course focused on awareness of LGBT concerns offered at the university. His research interests include historical perspectives of LGBT people, gender socialization, identity formation across the life span, cultural prejudices, the liberation movement and recent legal changes affecting stigmatized minorities.
• Anna Warbelow, graduate student in art history and archaeology in Arts & Sciences. Warbelow is engaged in a dissertation project titled “Camping the Canon: Artifice and Identity in Yasumasa Morimura’s Photographic Self-Portraiture,” which explores questions of gender, race, sexual and national identity.
• Austin Wilmot, junior. As a resident advisor, Wilmot has made an effort to tackle discrimination and prejudice both on and off his residential floor. Wilmot has assisted the LGBT community through his involvement with the Social Justice Center.
• Dan Woznica, senior majoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies in Arts & Sciences. Woznica has served as president of Pride Alliance and as a Safe Zones facilitator. During summer 2010, funded by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Andrea Biggs Undergraduate Research Award, Woznica examined the origins of AIDS in America as groundwork for his senior honors thesis.

2010 Honorees

• Amy Cislo, PhD, lecturer in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in Arts & Sciences. Cislo is teaching a new course on transgender studies, examining the history of this field.
• Scott Emanuel, public education manager for the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri. Emanuel has a special interest in LGBT issues and community development.
• Katie Garcia, interim coordinator for LGBT Student Involvement and Leadership and graduate student at the Brown School. Garcia has been a voice for the LGBTQ population in the classroom setting, to administrators at the Brown School, through the programs she has organized at the Brown School and in her position at the LGBT Student Involvement and Leadership office.
• Audrey King, a senior in Arts & Sciences. King has served on the executive boards of both Safe Zones and Pride Alliance and been heavily involved in both groups all four years on campus.
• Matt Zinter, graduate student in the School of Medicine. Zinter has been a driving force behind the LGBT Health Interest Group at the Medical School and developed and implemented a successful Mental Health Awareness Panel, which provides a forum for students to discuss important issues of mental health in the LGBT community with professional experts.

2009 Honorees

• Tom Brounk
• James Holobaugh
• Nancy Twilley
• Lori Weingarten
• The LGBT Center of Metropolitan St. Louis