PennGALA Recently held elections for members of the Steering Committee. We received many applications from diverse alumni. With the voting now concluded, PennGALA is happy to announce the four newest members of the Steering Committee - Joe Kapp, MGA’95, Greg Meila, C’06, Cynthia Wright, C’08, & Roberta Katz, W'90 EAS'90 WG'95. Ira Hillman, C’92, W’93, the current PennGALA Co-chair, was also re-elected to the steering committee. These members will bring energy and enthusiasm to the board, and we are excited to see PennGALA grow with their tenure.
PennGALA would also like to thank those individuals who have served on the Steering Committee in various roles over recent years – Joan Lau, ENG'92, WG'08, Bill Burdick, W’84, G’86, Darren Rosenbaum, C’91, L’95, and Freyda Neyman, CGS '83. Additional thanks go to non-voting members: Eric Boschetti C'05, Elizabeth Cooper C'83, Luzerne V. McAllister II W'05, Nick Setteducato C'00, and Robert E. Shepard C'83, G'83. Their contributions had great impacts on the PennGALA and its constituents, and we are happy to see them transition into new roles in the Penn community and in their home lives.
ELECTED MEMBERS (VOTING)
Thomas C. Hier WG'85 (Washington, DC)
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 June 2010
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 June 2011
Lex Ruby Howe C'07 (Philadelphia, PA)
Co-Chair
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 June 2010
Joe Kapp, MGA’95 (Washington, DC)
Term expires June 2011
Kevin Kassover C'91 (Los Angeles, CA)
Residing in West Hollywood, Kevin is the Director of Operations for AVA MD 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 June 2010
Roberta Katz, W'90 EAS'90 WG'95 (Pomona, NY)
Term expires June 2011
Greg Meila, C’06 (New York, NY)
Term expires June 2011
Cynthia Wright, C’08
Secretary
Term expires June 2011
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS (NON-VOTING)
Robert Schoenberg, Ph.D. GrS'89
Director of the Penn LGBT Center
Bob is the LGBT Center's first employee and its only director. In September 2008, he began his 27th year in that role. During 2000-02, Bob helped raise funds to provide a new home for the LGBT Center and oversaw the renovation of the Carriage House, its location since June 2002. Bob has taught courses at Penn, as well as Bryn Mawr College and Rutgers University. He edited the collection Homosexuality and Social Work and, with his counterparts at Penn State and UCLA, authored Our Place on Campus: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Services and Programs in Higher Education, published in June 2002. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Council for Relationships, the Advisory Board of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, and the Community Advisory Board of the Penn Center for AIDS Research. At Penn, Bob serves on the University Council Diversity and Equity Committee.
Erin G. Cross GRD'06 GR'10
Associate Director of the Penn LGBT Center
Erin is a Cleveland, Ohio native who now calls Philadelphia home. Before coming to Penn she held various jobs after earning her B.A. in History and Political Science from The College of Wooster and her M.A. in Political Science from The Pennsylvania State University. Her latest educational adventure is as a doctoral candidate at Penn's Graduate School of Education. In addition to her duties at the Center, Erin is a House Associate at Harrison College House, sits on the Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force, and serves on the Advisory Boards of Makuu: Black Cultural Center and the Division of Public Safety.
