ELECTED MEMBERS (VOTING)
Thomas C. Hier WG'85 (Washington, DC)
Co-Chair
A member of the Steering Committee since 2005, Tom has co-chaired PennGALA's successful mentoring outreach to undergraduates for the last three years. He now serves as a co-chair of the Steering Committee. He works as a higher education consultant in his own firm, Biddison Hier, Ltd. and his work has included development of a strategic housing plan that provided a blueprint for modernization of Penn's housing system. He and his partner, Bill Myhre L/GCP'76, a maritime attorney, live in Washington. Term expires 2008.
Ira J. Hillman C '92, W '92 (Washington, DC)
Co-Chair
Ira has served on the PennGALA Steering Committee since 2004. Just weeks after co-chairing the LGBT Center's 25th Anniversary Dinner, Ira assumed the responsibilities of PennGALA Co-Chair in April 2008. Ira is Chief Operating Officer of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, a grassroots advocacy organization in Washington DC. Previously, he was Managing Director of the Round House Theatre, a professional nonprofit Equity theatre. At Penn, he was involved with the Mask & Wig Club and Penn Student Agencies. Among his many alumni activities, he is also president of the Class of 1992. Term expires 2008.
Joan Lau ENG'92, WG'08 (Philadelphia, PA)
Treasurer
Joan works at a large healthcare company in the Philadelphia area. She is a past PennGALA co-chair, and has served on the Boards of Penn Alumni and the Penn Engineering Alumni Society. Currently, she is a member of the Trustees' Council for Penn Women. Term expires 2008.
Lex Ruby Howe C'07 (Philadelphia, PA)
Secretary
As a recent Penn graduate, Lex is using the energy and enthusiasm she had as a student leader to enhance the activities of PennGALA. Her commitment to Penn doesn't end here — Lex also works as an Assistant Director in Alumni Relations. As a student, Lex was the Co-chair of the Queer Student Alliance, the Political Chair of the Lambda Alliance, and was involved in a host of other organizations. Lex received the inaugural PennGALA Student Leadership Award for her commitment and dedication to the university community, as well as the R. Jean Brownlee Senior Honor Award. As a Steering Committee member, Lex is committed to Young Alumni engagement, and increasing visibility of alumni in the undergraduate and graduate student populations. Term Expires 2010.
William Burdick W'84, G'86 (Boston, MA)
Now in his fourth year on the Steering Committee, Bill has served as Co-Chair and headed 2005's successful PennGALA 20th anniversary celebration. While at Penn, he was active in the Penn Political Union and University Television. After graduating, he joined a Philadelphia-based architectural and engineering firm. Bill has been an active member of PennGALA for most of its history and helped to coordinate its events on campus prior to official recognition by the University in 1999. Term expires 2008.
Kevin Kassover C'91 (Los Angeles, CA)
Residing in West Hollywood, Kevin is Manager of Operations, for Cassileth Mueller Cosmetic Medicine (co-owned by Penn alumna Dr. Lisa Cassileth), located in Beverly Hills. He has served on the local Penn Club LA Board for over 10 years. Prior to Cassileth Mueller, Kevin worked in various capacities throughout the entertainment industry, including stints at CBS, Viacom and management company The Firm. Kevin wishes to be a link between current students, future graduates and Penn's Los Angeles alumni. Term expires 2010.
Freyda Neyman CGS '83, Post-Bacc '85-'86 (Philadelphia, PA)
Freyda is a Primary Care Pediatrician at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. She is an active board member of the Philadelphia Pediatric Society, and also serves as a mentor for first year female med students at Drexel University College of Medicine. Freyda is also the proud mother of twin 11 ½ year old boys. Term Expires 2008.
Lisa Pols C'84, W'84 (New York, NY)
Lisa is a vice president at Time Inc., where she serves as general manager of the Media Group. In addition to her Penn degree, she holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Lisa lives near New York with her partner Gigi and their son Benjamin. Lisa is interested in engaging female members of the PennGALA community. Term expires 2008.
Darren Rosenblum C'91, L'95 (New York, NY)
Co-chair from November 2003-April 2008, Darren is an Associate Professor at Pace Law School in New York. While at Penn, he was a member of the Philomathean Society and the first openly gay male columnist for The
Daily Pennsylvanian. He clerked in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico from 1996 to 1998, and then worked in international arbitration at Skadden, Arps and Clifford Chance in New York. He has written extensively on LGBT and gender theory, among other subjects. Term expires 2008.
APPOINTED MEMBERS (NON-VOTING)
Eric Boschetti C'05 (Montréal, QC)
Eric is currently finishing up law school at McGill University in Montréal, Québec. Eric's involvement with the LGBT commuity while at Penn through PATH, DLP, QPenn, and PennGALA has not stopped. He currently coordinates a legal information center for the LGBT community in Montréal and Canada, is a board member of FréquenceVIH, and co-coordinates LEGALE McGill OutLaw. Term Expires 2008.
Elizabeth Cooper C'83 (New York, NY)
Liz is a founding co-chair and current co-chair of the Penn Alumni Diversity Alliance and is a former co-chair of PennGALA. She is Vice-Chair for Governance of Penn Alumni and sits on the organization's Executive Committee. She is an Associate Professor at Fordham University School of Law in New York, where she also is the Faculty Director of the Feerick Center for Social Justice. Liz teaches the Urban Policy Clinic, the Social Justice Clinic, and a seminar in Institutional Reform through the Courts; she also is faculty advisor to Fordham OUTlaws, LGBT law student organization. Term Expires 2008.
Luzerne V. McAllister II W'05 (Philadelphia, PA)
Luzerne is serving his first year as a member of the Steering Committee. While at Penn, Luzerne was involved in various Penn LGBT groups including Delta Lambda Phi and Queer People of Color student organizations. For his contributions to the university community, Luzerne received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for leadership and a Special Citation from the James Brister Society for the promotion of diversity at the University. Luzerne currently works at Accenture as an Analyst in the Talent and Organization Performance practice; and is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Network at Accenture. Term Expires 2008.
Nick Setteducato C'00 (Philadelphia, PA)
Nick is currently a law student at Temple University. Prior to law school, Nick held a variety of jobs in the non-profit and government sectors, including Penn's Office of Alumni Relations, and most recently as grant writer and employment discrimination officer for the Richmond County District Attorney's Office. Nick is excited to work towards engaging Young Alumni, as well as increasing opportunities for mentorship. Term Expires 2008
Robert E. Shepard C'83, G'83 (Berkeley, CA)
Proprietor of his own literary agency, Robert has worked in book publishing for more than 20 years. He is a past PennGALA co-chair and secretary and previously edited the organization's print newsletter, Up & Out. He also serves on Penn Alumni's communications committee and as a secondary school interviewer. Robert and his partner, Robert Numer C'82, a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, are avid cyclists and birders. Term expires 2008.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS (NON-VOTING)
Robert Schoenberg, Ph.D. GrS'89
Director of the Penn LGBT Center
Erin G. Cross GRD'06 GR'10
Associate Director of the Penn LGBT Center
