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 27 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 a cat named Blizzard.
      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 loves Chinese food!

      Hello! My name is Elizabeth McDonald, and I am a second year doctoral candidate of Counselor Education and a nationally certified counselor. I am eager to work with the PSU community by serving as one of your graduate assistants for the 2007-2008 school year! I will be working with the Alumni, Mentorship program, and Support Network, as well as offering crisis intervention. 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. I get a kick out of numb thighs when walking against the wind and the slow warming process that happens from the outside in when I walk into a warm building from the cold. 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”) and I am a first-year master’s candidate in the College Student Affairs Program at Penn State and the new graduate assistant for the LGBTA Student Resource Center. I recently graduated from the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania in May of 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Science 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 worked through many areas of diversity through different

programs and internships. I also was in a master’s program in Counseling, but decided I enjoyed the Higher Education environment much more. As the graduate intern at the center, my primary responsibilities include: scheduling and assessment of the Straight Talks program; advising editors of the Center’s newsletter (The OUTRider) and Fraternity and Sorority Life interns; and assisting with the programming activities sponsored by the LGBTA SRC.
       When not working on school work, I really enjoy reading and spending time with my dogs (Scooter, Bailey, and Andre). The only one in State College with me is Andre and he seems to be enjoying the new environment. 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 from the real world, you will find me on the beach with a book in my hand enjoying the sound of the waves.
       While at Penn State, I hope to further my interests in Social Justice work and continue to research LGBTA topics. In the future, I hope to work within higher education, but not yet sure in what capacity. If you have any questions or want to know more, please feel free to contact me!

       My name is Kelly Bellew and I am a first year student in the College Student Affairs Masters degree program and my assistantship is in the Division of Undergraduate Studies.  I am serving as the Volunteer Coordinator for the LGBTA SRC.  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 SRC 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 stuff, I love spending time with friends and family and watching or playing a variety of sports. 

      My name is Samuel Lopez and I am a second-year Master’s candidate in the College Student Affairs Master’s program at Penn State. You can call me Sammy. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Deviant Behavior and Social Control at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York. As an undergraduate at John Jay College, I participated in a number of

activities and leadership roles including: baseball, football, President of the Association of Puerto Rican Studies Organization, and Student Government President.  I am currently working in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center as the Center’s graduate assistant and program coordinator. My primary responsibilities include: being a teaching assistant for the Straight Talks class; as well as advising Q-Spot program. In the future, I plan to work in an advocacy unit or a Cultural Center at a college or university. I am interested in working with underrepresented and historically disenfranchised populations.
      I love the center and I hope to do what I can to build a more inclusive environment for LGBT persons on this campus. I also love playing sports, spades, sleeping in late on the weekends, and drinking coffee and playing Madden 2009.

      Hi! My name is Josh and I'm the Special Projects intern.  I am a super-senior in Psychology and Women's Studies.  I will be responsible for the center's web forms as well as a project called LGBTQArchitect, due for launch in late September.  Penn State and the LGBTA SRC provides, over many things, opportunity.  I hope that my work while I am here and after graduation will allow me to facilitate genuine opportunity for a quality life for everyone inclusive of the margins on which some people live and the structures we operate within.  For me, idealism is not a juvenile fantasy, rather, it is a real

reflection of what is possible. After I graduate, I hope to pursue a career in social work, teaching, or enter into an advocacy group for marginalized populations.  Outside of the center, I dabble in computer sorcery, knitting, biking, and hula-hooping.  You might find me hanging out at the housing cooperative I belong to. 

Hello! My name is Jennifer Mehalick and I am the OUTRider Editor Intern. This is my second year doing this internship and I am happy to be back! I edit, publish and do some writing for each edition of the newsletter. I coordinate alumni-focused articles as well as topic assignments for volunteer columnists. If you have any suggestions for the OUTRider newsletter I would love to hear from you

(my email address is jlm5231@psu.edu)!So, a little about me:I am a senior with a major in English and a minor in Women's Studies. I feel like my internship with the Center perfectly fits my interests academically as well as personally. I am gaining experience in my field of study while simultaneously supporting a community that is very important to me. In my free time, I enjoy reading, making jewelry, running and being a massive video game nerd. I am also an animal lover, so one of my future ambitions is to open an animal shelter wherever I am living or to help better the one that already exists. Finally, I like to dye my hair various colors, so feel free to drop by the Center and check out what new color(s) I am sporting!

Hey everyone! I'm Steve. I'm currently a third-year undergraduate studying English, Health Policy & Administration, and Women's Studies. I'll be the Events and Programming intern for the 2008-2009 year, trying to fill our semester calendars with as many great speakers and events as possible. I'll be actively engaged in planning National Coming Out Week for October and Pride Week for the spring. When I'm not in "The Center," I'm involved in a variety of other organizations and activities including the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), College Democrats, Mock Trial, and Atlas Thon. I'm also currently a TA for WMST/CLJ 423- Rape and Violence Against Women. I would say 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 visit us. 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. Our community is not just concerned with issues of sexual orientation and gender identity but myriad other issues facing all underrepresented groups.

        Greetings boys and girls! I’m Renee your Office Operations and Resources Intern for the 08-09 school year. As a second-year student majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Psychology, I’m excited to be working as a sort of office organization and maintenance intern with a little brochure creating and bulletin board upkeep on the side. But most of all I’m looking

forward to being a part of this fabulous Penn State community and working towards making my dream school an even dreamier place for everyone.
       I love working with all the queer groups on campus and am the current Vice President of Undertones- a group for queer people of color. Feel free to come check out our meetings posted on the Web Calendar!
       With my major I’m hoping to get a masters or doctorate in Social Work. After working a long stint in schools and with Child and Family Services I hope to open up a private practice counseling queer youth and their parents. And if I fail and drop out I can always run away to Disney World to be Tinkerbelle!
       Anyways, I’m a pint-sized vegetarian, tree-hugging hippie who loves lying in an open field, jamming to some epic 80’s hair metal, and doodling instead of note taking. I’m thrilled about working with such an amazing group of people and never be hesitant to say hi!

Hi--My name is Yvette I. Lerma, the Straight Talks Pro Intern.  This will be my third 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.

Hey Everyone! My name is James and I am a sophomore at Penn State majoring in Health Policy and Administration. Currently, I serve as the Community Outreach Intern at the LGBTA Student Resource Center. I am also co-president of Global Medical Brigades, a volunteer organization dedicated to supplying adequate medical solutions in Honduras. I like Penn State because there are many

things to do and lots of interesting people to meet! I like working in the LGBTA Student Resource Center because we work hard to promote a positive campus climate and expand to meet the needs of students from many different backgrounds. In my spare time I enjoy biking, being outdoors, and playing the occasional video game.

      Hi! My name Lianna Newman and I am the Racial and Ethnic Diversity Outreach Intern for the LGBTA Student Resource Center. I work with groups such as the Black Caucus, Undertones, Latino Caucus, Asian Caucus, The Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, the Multicultural Roundtable, as well as other student and community organizations. I am Secretary for Undertones which is a student organization for LGBTA students of color. I communicate with student groups to assist in identifying resource needs, and
gather information for improving involvement of

LGBTQA students of color. I am responsible for developing strategies for outreach to LGBTQA students of color. I am a junior in the College of Communications. My major is Media Studies and my minor is German. One of the best things about Penn State is the many resources available to all students. The best thing about the LGBTA Student Resource Center is the safe space it provides. The thing that I am looking forward to most in my internship position this year is event planning. My hobbies included reading, writing screenplays, and volunteering. I love dogs, my favorite food is shrimp, and my favorite color is purple.

James Habeeb - OUTRider Writer

James Habeeb is the OUTRider Writer Intern. He is also the Recorder for the group SpeakOut, a political action group that focuses on LGBTQA rights. When James has free time, he enjoys playing on his Nintendo Wii or reading.

 

Hello everyone I am the Information Resource Intern. I am a double major in History and Information Sciences and Technology. I post all the events and updates to the website when needed. I also record special events that the LGBTA SRC sponsors.  I am also a Resident Assistant in West Halls and I love to help student find information and resources in Penn State.