Hello! My name is Claire Gonyo and I started as the Assistant Director of the LGBTA Resource Center in July of 2008. I’m so excited to be here and am looking forward to helping to provide an inclusive and safe space for members of the The Pennsylvania State University community. I also look forward to helping to improve the campusclimate for LGBTA students throughout Penn State through programming,

educational outreach and trainings, and being an advocate to the needs of LGBTA folks in our community.
       I earned my BA in Philosophy from SUNY College at Oneonta in 2003 and my Master’s degree from Syracuse University in 2005.  I came to Penn State most recently from the University of South Florida and I worked at Alfred University prior to that. My background is in residence life, but I have also worked in the areas of student activities, substance abuse prevention, learning communities, and LGBT student services.   I am honored to have been selected to work at LGBTA Student Resource Center here at Penn State as I am able to come to work each day and do what I love; work with students and advocating for the LGBTA community.  Being from residence life, a largely holistic field in student affairs, I have been able to bring that holistic approach of helping students to develop. I believe that we must help students to develop in all aspects of their life, not just their identity as a member of the LGBTA community, but also as an overall person. 

      Neda began working as a Staff Assistant at the LGBTA Student Resource Center in February 2002. Neda has a variety of responsibilities. She manages the office budget and keeps the office running smoothly. She orders office supplies, files documents, and types reports. Neda also works with the library intern, taking over his/her responsibilities when students are not on-campus and during the summer. Neda has worked at Penn State University for the past 28 years.

     Neda has always lived in Pennsylvania. She was born in Valley Forge Hospital. She moved to State College in the mid-1970s. Neda has two sons, Adam and Jake, and two cats Blizzard and Tizzy.
In her spare time, Neda enjoys solving crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. She loves to read murder mysteries, romance novels and science fiction books. Neda is a fan of researching old documents, uncovering her genealogy and that of others. Finally, Neda really enjoys Chinese food!

      Hello! My name is Elizabeth McDonald, and I am just earned my PhD in Counselor Education and a nationally certified counselor. I am eager to continue working with the PSU community by serving as the mentorship coordinator. Factoids and Favorites:   One of my most primal needs is good conversation with strangers. I enjoy cooking, entertaining, and traveling, having been to such places as Tanzania, Taiwan, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

     I once caught a bat in a fishing net. I love winter. I love the snow, the cold, AND the wind. Favorite things: Color: Yellow. Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude. Flower: Daisy. Mammal: duck-billed platypus. Smells: laundry and Crisp Linen Lysol. Toothpaste: Tom's of Maine. Pen: Blue Uni-ball Signo . Shape: Star

     Hello! I’m Brian Patchcoski (nickname “Patch”). I am a second-year master’s candidate in the College Student Affairs program at Penn State and the graduate assistant for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Student Resource Center (LGBTA SRC).

     I graduated from the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania in May of 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Counseling and Human Services and a minor in Art History. While at the University of Scranton, I was involved in student orientations, leadership initiatives, and committed to increasing diversity awareness on campus.
      During my undergraduate career, I was in a master’s program in Community Counseling, but decided I wanted to further my studies in higher education. As the graduate assistant for the center, my primary responsibilities include the scheduling and assessment of the Straight Talks peer-education program, advising the editors of the center’s alumni newsletter (The OUTRider) and assessing all the services offered through our Center at Penn State. Besides supervising interns, I am actively involved in the programming activities sponsored by the LGBTA SRC.
       As part of my co-curricular learning experiences within the College Student Affairs program, this year you can also find me interning at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center at Penn State. Recognizing issues LGBTQQIA individuals encounter while exploring spirituality and religion, I hope to be a support and provide resources for all students at Penn State wishing to explore these particular aspects of their identities intersected with their sexual and gender identities.
      When not working on my graduate degree, I really enjoy reading and spending time with my dog. Andre is in State College with me and enjoys our daily walks. I also enjoy running and working out, it helps to balance the stress of school and life in general. On a fun note, my favorite place to spend my time is the beach. Whenever I can slip away, you will find me on the beach with a book in my hand.
       While completing my master’s degree this year, I hope to further my interests in social justice work and continue to research LGBTQQIA issues. As I move forward this year, I hope to emerge as a stronger LGBTQQIA professional and secure a position at a university working with LGBTQQIA students next year. If you have any questions or want to know more, please feel free to contact me!

     Hi there and hello! My name is Mark Gardner. I am a Graduate Assistant here at the LGBTA Student Resource Center. My hometown is Akron, Ohio and I attended Bowling Green State University (BGSU) where I received my Bachelors of Arts in Communication. At Bowling Green, I worked with the Human Relation Commission to promote respect and tolerance for everyone on campus.

     I also worked in the Office of Academic enhancement as a writing tutor and was a soloist in the BGSU Men’s Chorus. I am now pursuing my Masters of Education degree in College Student Affairs. 
     In the LGBTA Center, I will be working with Sorority and Fraternity outreach, racial and ethnic diversity outreach, and assessment of LGBTA programs. I am excited about all the wonderful programs, events, and outreach that we do here at the center. In fact, the LGBTA Center is my favorite thing about Penn State (my second favorite thing would have to be the school spirit!). I am always looking forward to new and creative ways to inform, educate, and enrich our campus community about issues surrounding the LGBTA community.
     One important thing to know about me is that I have a BIG sense of humor. I believe that laughter is the key to not only a healthy life, but the foundation for building bridges and cultivating a sense of community. Another important thing to know about me is that I love to sing and I love theatre/creative drama. I have only played in one show since graduating from high school. However, I am on the look out for ways to participate in theatre here at Penn State and you can probably catch me attending many of the theatre productions here on campus!

     My name is Kelly Bellew and I am a second year student in the College Student Affairs program and I work is in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) as a graduate assistant, advising exploratory students and working with the First-Year, Testing, Consulting and Advising Program (FTCAP).  Prior to coming to Penn State, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College in 2002.  I have lived in Central Pennsylvania for most of my life.

     My primarily responsibility for the LGBTA Student Resource Center is to serve as the Volunteer Coordinator.  Volunteers are a vital part of the great work we do at the Student Resource Center and I always look forward to meeting and training our new volunteers.   I also assist with Q-Spot, so stop in and see us for movies, crafts, snacks, and hanging out with friends.
      I like Penn State because while the university is large, it is a quiet community and a great atmosphere for learning.  I also like that at Penn State there are so many opportunities for involvement and I really do believe that there is a place for everyone.  I'm excited to be working in the LGBTA Student Resource Center because it is a great resource on campus to students and faculty and there are so many friendly welcoming faces to greet you when you stop in.
      When I'm not busy with graduate school, I volunteer as an advisor for my sorority.  I love spending time with family and friends.  I also enjoy watching or playing a variety of sports. 

 

Hi, my name is Corey Hamel and I am psychology major with the bio/evo option. I am currently in my sophomore year and will be filling the OUTRider writer position. One thing I love about Penn State is all the possibilities and resources available to me at any time. I'm really excited about bringing something new to the newsletter and revamping it to be more interactive and creative. I hope that what we turn out this year is as interesting and fun to read as it is to create!

     Hi! My name is Daniel Guerra and I am the Information Resources Intern for the 2009-2010 school year.  I am a senior this year and majoring in the Information Sciences and Technology Program with a focus on Application and Integration.  In my opinion the best thing about Penn State is the large amount of groups and clubs available for students to join and be involved in.         

     I will be working with the staff to keep the webpage and calendar of events up to date.

Hey Everybody! My name is Julian Haas and I am the Office Operations and Resources Intern for the 2009-10 school year. I am currently in my second year at Penn State and I am thrilled to be working for the LGBTA SRC. In the coming semesters I look forward to meeting and working with more of this great community that has become like a family to me.

     Hi! My name is Kirsten Hartman and I am a sophomore majoring in Marketing. I am the current Programming and Events intern for the LGBT Student Center. I am VERY excited about making advertisements and expanding my graphic design abilities for the Center to spread awareness about our programs and activities.

   Hi! My name is Lianna Newman and I’m the OUTRider Editor intern. As editor I will be working on the layout of the center’s newsletter, editing articles, conducting interviews, and writing articles. I’m a senior in Media Studies and a German minor. As a student at Penn State I love the hundreds of student organizations available, which cover just about every interest imaginable.

    This year I’m excited to work with the OUTRider writer on changing the layout of the newsletter, and I’m excited about the addition of new content that will be featured in the OUTRider. Overall I’m looking forward to interning at the center this year!
     Aside from my internship at the center, I’m also the President of the student organization Undertones, which is a student organization for LGBTA students of color. I’m secretary of Rainbow Roundtable, and also a member of the CLGBTE. As a special project this year, which will be conducted through Undertones, I am starting up a literary magazine for the LGBTA community at Penn State. LGBTA students will be able to submit their works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and art and have it featured in a magazine that will be distributed to all of the Penn State campuses with active LGBTA student organizations. This will be a yearlong project, and is something I’m really looking forward to. In my spare time I enjoy screenplay writing, reading, and filmmaking/editing short films. Please note that: my favorite color is purple, my favorite food is shrimp, and I absolutely love dogs.

     Hey Everyone! My name is Michelle and I am going to be the 2009-2010 Greek Outreach Intern. I am currently a senior here at Penn State studying underprivileged cultures and Third World nations. What I love most about Penn State is that I have had the opportunity to study what I am passionate about, and therefore have grown as not only a student, but as a person over the past three years.

     That is exactly what makes me so excited to be working at the Center this year; I am stoked to get to explore another field that I am interested in and also work to promote outreach and understanding on campus.
     I will be working closely with the Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Multicultural Greek Council to create partnerships between Greek-affiliated chapters and the LGBTQA communities. In my free time I am a member of Alpha Chi Omega, and through my sorority I have developed a passion for THON. Also, I spent the past semester studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina and fell in love with what I saw of South America. Overall I am excited to be a senior and will be striving to make the most of my last year at this fabulous place!

Hi everyone my name is Quortne Hutchings and I am the Greek Outreach Intern this year.  I’m a senior majoring in Sociology planning to attend Graduate School next fall in a Student Affairs Master program.  One thing that I love about Penn State has to be THON. THON is an experience that to me is indescribable and it takes my breath away every time they reveal the total every year. I have been fortunate enough to be on a Morale committee for the past two years and just being involved in that aspect of THON is amazing.  THON is an amazing cost and I would love for everyone to participate in someway shape or form.

I’m most excited about working in the Center this year is definitely trying to promote more connection with Greek Life and the LGBTA community.  I would love for both of these communities to work together for a better understanding of each other.  It would be amazing for both communities to take away the negative stereotypes about each of them and see each other for people and who they are.  I love meeting new people and getting to know people on a personal level and if you ever see me on campus or downtown don’t be afraid to ask any questions you may have. Life is about learning from experiences and people you meet so that we can share that knowledge with someone else.

     Hey everyone! I'm Steve. I'm a graduating senior undergraduate studying English, Health Policy & Administration, and Women's Studies. In my second year interning at the LGBTA Student Resource Center, I will serve as the Community Development & Outreach Intern, having previously acted as the Center’s Events and Programming intern in the 2008-2009 school year.  In this new role, I hope to plan more targeted outreach from the Center to prospective Penn State students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, ally (LGBTQA) and those who may be questioning their sexuality and/or gender identity. 

     I am also hoping to find ways to connect with or provide resources to current students who may not feel comfortable being open about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity yet at Penn State but who may also be looking to establish connection with fellow LGBTQA students.  (Be on the lookout for the Come Out Penn State project, a web-based resource for students to learn about being LGBTQA and coming out at Penn State.)    
     This school year, I will also be serving as President of The Rainbow Roundtable, which is a coalition of LGBTQA student groups at Penn State University – University Park.  Getting involved in the LGBTQA community at Penn State was one of the best decisions I made in college and would encourage anyone unsure about getting their feet wet to stop by 101 Boucke to see how they can get involved and meet other LGBTQA students. I'm continually amazed by the strength and diversity of the LGBTQA community and how actively most of us are in causes and ideas bigger than ourselves.
      In my time at Penn State, I have also served in a number of other organizations including the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) – Executive Board, College Democrats, Mock Trial, and Atlas Thon. I also worked as a TA for WMST/CLJ 423- Rape and Violence Against Women with Caren Bloom.

    Hello everyone my name is Summer Woods and I intend to become a Theatre major and a minor in Spanish. This is my sophomore year here at Penn State University and I am really excited about this school year. My internship position in the LGBTA Student Resource Center is Outreach for Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
     One thing I love about being a Penn State student is the “LOVE” people have for the school, learning, and being proud to shout out “We Are, Penn State!!!” I am so excited about meeting new people and helping people become involved with the center.

I’m also excited about everything else that I would be involved in this year. I really feel like this year is going to be one of my most memorial college experiences. I plan to become a more motivated and determined student, because I am a student first. When this internship is over and until forever, I would have like to made a impact on someone’s else life and to continue giving back, not to just the LGBTA community’s but to all community’s.

     Hi--My name is Yvette Isela Lerma, the Straight Talks Pro Intern.  This will be my fourth year at Penn State.  I plan to graduate with a BS in Sociology with a Women’s Studies and Latin@ Studies minors.  I am from Nogales (small border town), Arizona and I have to admit one of the reasons I am at Penn State- University Park is the fact that we have a beautiful campus. 

     The LGBTA SRC (aka the Center) is my second home.  I eat there daily, I take naps there frequently, and I love hanging out there with friends, needless to say that the lounge area is one of my favorite things about the Center. Not to mentioned that the people that work at the Center or frequent the Center are a part of my second family.
      I will not try to pretend like I can decide what I am looking forward to the most this year as the ST Pro Intern because I am too excited about having this position this year.  I would say some of the most random facts about me are: My birthmark is in my right eye and I love anything gummy, gummy bears, gummy worms, gummy lifesavers, etc.