LGBTQ+ Center Action Team (LSAC)

The LGBTQ+ Center Student, Staff, and Faculty Action Team, also known as LSAC, consists of individuals from across the Kent State University campus system, united by a common goal to make Kent State an inclusive and safe place for the LGBTQ+ community. The committee has three focus areas under which we focus our efforts: Inclusion, Wellness, and Advocacy, all of which were identified as needs in the Center’s last strategic planning session.  LSAC is about ACTION and getting things done, not just advising and brainstorming ideas but helping to move projects and initiatives forward for the betterment of our students, faculty, staff, and overall community.

Spring 2022 LGBTQ+ Center Staff/Faculty/Student/Community Action Team (LSAC) Members

Andrew Barnes

Sarah Beal

Sarah (she/her) is the Professional Development Specialist in the Center for Teaching & Learning and the Graduate College. She holds a PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of Cincinnati, where she studied Roman dining practices. In her free time, Sarah enjoys playing video games, watching anime, doing jigsaw puzzles, and driving her car on track.

Ellis Browning

Ellis (she/they) currently serves as a Research Specialist for the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement. They began working at Kent State in 2023 after graduating from the university in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in English with a partcular proclivity for Arthurian Legend. Their favorite thing about Kent State is the profound sense of community generated by faculty, staff, and students for both on and off campus.

Lawrence Carter

Lawrence (he/him/his) has been a part of the KSU Community since 2013.  He brings 35 years of hospitality industry experience to his position with the KSU Foundation as their Asset Manager for the KSU Hotel & Conference Center.  While serving as a member of LSAC , he has also enjoyed supporting the Rainbow Run, LavGrad and other LGBTQ+ Center initiatives and events.  Lawrence is also a member of the KSU Hospitality Advisory Board serving the program from which he earned his Master's degree in 2020, and he is a Part-Time Instructor with the KSU Hospitality and Event Management Program.  In his spare time he enjoys proudly owning a gay small business, Pet-Tique, with his husband, working with pet rescues toward adoptions, and volunteering for LGBTQ+ community events such as Pride and The Gay Games. 

Matthew Cola

Julie Evey

Julie Evey (she/they) is a proud KSU alumna who was at the University of Southern Indiana for 17 years serving as Faculty, Assistant Dean, and Psychology Department Chair. Julie returned to northeast Ohio and has been at the Geauga Campus teaching Psychology since 2018.  She was active at her last school with LGBTQ+ in the community having found a passion for civil rights.  She enjoys spending time with her life partner, their children, her crazy cat, and working on their 1972 Chevy C10 and 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer.  

Lindsey Holub

Lindsey Holub (she/her) is a Residence Hall Director for Leebrick/Korb Halls with the LGBTQ+ Living Learning Community. This is her third semester with the LSAC committee and she is so excited to see the team continue to grow. 

Ivory Herman

Ivory (they/them) is a first-year student at Kent State and is majoring in Journalism, minoring in Psychology. This is their second semester interning at the LGBTQ+ Center, and is so excited to see where this year brings the team. They also have a two-year-old golden doodle named Boba and is obsessed with pumpkin iced coffee!

Olivia Klein

Olivia is a Kent State alum and currently works as the Senior Secretary for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She is passionate about LGBTQ+ and disability equality and representation. Outside of their position, they like spending time with their partner and cats, exploring music, and making different kinds of crafts. She hopes one day she can visit all the National Parks of America.

Katie Mattise

Katie (they/them/their) serves as a director in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. They work with others to create, provide and facilitate opportunities for people to engage in meaningful conversation around various social justice topics. Outside of their position, Katie enjoys playing video games, reading books and spending time outside. They love connecting with people, so please reach out to say hi!

Györgyi Mihályi

Györgyi Mihályi is one of the assistant directors at the Wick Poetry Center in the College of Arts and Sciences. She has an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration with an Internationalization certificate from Kent State University as well as BA in English Literature from the University of Szeged and a BA in Business Administration from Kent State University. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Administration at Kent State and working on her dissertation. She is originally from beautiful Szeged, Hungary. 

Mahli Xuan Mechenbier

Mahli Xuan Mechenbier (she/her/hers) is a Senior Lecturer in English at Kent State University: Twinsburg Academic Center where she teaches Technical Writing, Professional Writing, Introduction to LGBT Literature, and College Writing I & II.  Mahli was adopted from South Vietnam by German-American parents after a Catholic missionary nun found her next to a road outside of Saigon.  She has three cats: Freyja, Hyperion, and Tyr. 

Erica Pelz

Erica (she/her/hers) is the Facilities Mechanical Systems Specialist for Laboratories on the Kent Campus, and has 18 years with Kent State University.  She is the advisor to both Trans*fusion and oSTEM@KSU as well as serving as Vice President of Spectrum, the LGBTQ+ and ally employee resource group.  Erica was one of the driving forces in securing transgender inclusive health insurance for faculty and staff.   In her spare time she enjoys writing for her blog, building crazy holiday lights, and spending time with her wife and three cats.

Krystal Pratt

Dr. Christopher Roman

Dr. Christopher Michael Roman (he/him/his) is Professor of English and teaches courses in Comics Studies and the Graphic Novel, LGBTQ+ Literature, and Queer Theory. His new book Queering Wolverine in Comics and Fanfiction: A Fastball Special has just been published by Routledge (2023) and examines the bodily and relationship queerness represented by the Marvel character, Wolverine. His previous work in medieval studies includes the books, Domestic Mysticism in Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe (2005),  Queering Richard Rolle (2017), and his co-edited collection, Medieval Futurity: Essays for the Future of a Queer Medieval Studies (2021). His new work has turned to Comics Studies where he investigates the intersections of queer theory and the superhero, LGBTQ Comics, as well as other comics studies projects.

Valerie Samuel

Adam Santavy

Meghan Schwind

Meghan Schwind, M.A. (she/her), serves as the assistant director of the LGBTQ+ Center. Meghan has previously worked at KSU in the Department of Residence Services in multiple roles from 2015 to 2020, and she joined the LGBTQ+ Center in 2023.  Meghan has completed the KSU Institute for Excellence, ATIXA Title IX Investigator Training School, Green Dot Trainer training, and Mental Health First Aid USA training to further her knowledge and abilities to be a stronger advocate for college students. 
Meghan lives with her wife, son, and two pit bull mix dogs. She enjoys spending time with family, attending the Playhouse Square Broadway musical series as a season ticket holder with her sister, and engaging in outdoor activities. 

Alexxus Sidney

Alexxus (she/her) is the Special Assistant in the Graduate College at Kent State University. She received her Bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Studies from KSU in May 2020. In her current role, she supports graduate students from orientation to graduation. Prior to her joining the Graduate College in September 2021, Alexxus gained extensive experience with University Housing and Student Success Programs. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, hanging out with her cats, and trying new food.

Gyngy Stypa

I'm Gyngy (she/her), Administrative Assistant to the Dean in the College of Nursing and have worked at KSU for 20 years. I have a master's in public administration with a bachelor's in public helath, currently pursuing a CDCA Certificate. I have two sons, one in Los Angeles and one in Mogadore that make my heart shine; and my four-legged baby, Luckie, a 2 yr. old 183# Great Dane that is initimidating when you see him, but a big goofy clown as soon as you say his name. Looking forward to working on LSAC and the contributions we can make to the university.  

Yvonna Washington-Greer

Dr. Yvonna Washington-Greer (she/her/hers) is the Assistant Vice President of Equity, Identity, and Success in the Division of Student Life. Within this pillar of the division, she focuses on equity by providing targeted support and advocacy and creating an inclusive environment with services, spaces, and programs to aid in the retention and successes of underrepresented students and the cultural intelligence of all students, staff, and faculty.

Baz Wenger

Baz is a transgender man who has worked in backstage Theatre for about 15 years. This is his first semester as Faculty at Trumbull to teach classes and help produce Kent Trumbull Theatre's shows. He is excited to volunteer his time with the LSAC committee and is devoted to making the world a better place for all people, but especially those under the Transgender umbrella. His professional portfolio can be viewed at www.bazwenger.com.

Morgan Woodin

Morgan (he/him/his) is a Coordinator of Operations and Special Projects in the Division of People, Culture and Belonging. He’s always had a passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community, and enjoys being as involved as possible with the LGBTQ+ Center at Kent State! Morgan has always been a sucker for a good pun, quality pizza, and the serenity of a Lake Erie sunset in the summer.