What Is an Ally?
Allies include staff, faculty, and students at UMass Amherst who display an "Ally" placard outside their office or residence hall room. This sign identifies them as individuals who are willing to provide a safe haven, a listening ear, and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people or anyone dealing with sexual orientation and/or gender identity issues.
All allies have attended a training workshop through the Stonewall Center to learn about the benefits and responsibilities of being an ally to LGBT people in our community. Every ally has signed an ally contract before posting their placard.
Allies are committed to educating others and themselves about the oppression of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people and to combat heterosexism and genderism personally and institutionally. They are committed to providing support to members of the LGBT and Ally community.
Our Allies
Center for Student Development
Center for Student Businesses
- Dana Griffin, Undergraduate Business Consultant
- Rosemary Schmidt, Director
- Laura Valente, Undergraduate Business Consultant
- Donna Vanasse, Administrative Coordinator
Craft Center
- Paula Hodecker, Director
- Marjorie Valdivia, Graduate Student Assistant Director
Office of Programs and Services for ALANA Students
- Hind Mari, Director, Women of Color Leadership Network
- Linda Olf, Associate Director, United Asia Learning Resource Center
- Jacqueline Pinn, Director
- Joyce White Vincent, Associate Director, Native American Student Services
Student Legal Services Office
- Corey Carvalho, Administrative Coordinator
- Pamela Dutta, Outreach Coordinator
- Isaac Fairbank, Legal Assistant
- Caitlyn Glowacki, Legal Assistant
- John Goodwin, Legal Assistant
- Sania Santos, Legal Assistant
Union Video Center - TV 19
- Susan Allen, Assistant Station Manager
- Darol Bishop, Technician
- Peter Marvin, General Manager
Everywoman's Center
- Nicole Fernald, Educator Advocate
- Nicholas Gooler, Educator Advocate
- Kerianne Haar, Educator Advocate
- Tanya Kachuaha, Director of Community Education
- Jennifer Snyder, Educator Advocate
Residence Life
- Ronald Trunzo, Recruitment and Staff Development Director, Berkshire House
Central Residential Area
Brett/Brooks Halls
Van Meter Hall
North Residential Area
North Apartments
Northeast Residential Area
Crabtree Hall
Mary Lyon Hall
Orchard Hill Residential Area
Webster/Dickinson Halls
Southwest Residential Area
Coolidge Hall
John Adams Hall
Prince Hall
