Stonewall Center Staff

Genny Beemyn, Director
genny@stuaf.umass.edu

Genny has published and spoken extensively on the experiences and needs of transgender people, particularly the lives of gender-nonconforming students. Ze has written or edited eight books/journal issues, including special issues of the Journal of LGBT Youth on "Trans Youth" and "Supporting Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Children and Youth" and a special issue of the Journal of Homosexuality on "LGBTQ Campus Experiences." Genny's most recent works are The Lives of Transgender People (Columbia University Press, 2011), which was written with Sue Rankin, and the "Transgender History" chapter for Trans Bodies, Trans Selves (Oxford University Press, 2014). Currently, ze is finishing a book on the history of LGBT life in Washington, D.C. In addition to being the director of the Stonewall Center, Genny is also a board member of the Transgender Law and Policy Institute (www.transgenderlaw.org) and an editorial board member of the Journal of LGBT Youth, the Journal of Bisexuality, the Journal of Homosexuality, and the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice. Genny has a Ph.D. in African American Studies and Master's degrees in African American Studies, American Studies, and Higher Education Administration. Ze is also an avid cross-country runner and likes the challenge of biking up mountains.

Hillary Montague-Asp, Graduate Assistant
hmontagu@educ.umass.edu

Hillary is a Master's Student in the Social Justice Education Program and was previously a student at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Sociology, Women & Gender Studies, LGBT Studies, and Peace & Conflict Studies. While at CU Boulder, Hillary was an employee of the GLBTQ Resource Center, the Office of Orientation, and the CU Student Government, a queer student group leader, and served on several queer-related campus committees. Hillary has done research concerning the campus climate for transgender college students in Colorado, as well as an extensive thesis on the It Gets Better Project. Hillary was named a Top 12 Leader in Action in 2011 by Campus Pride and has focused her activism toward policy change for trans students, including but not limited to nondiscrimination policies, bathroom options, and housing, as well as educating her local communities on queer issues. She is interested in the construction of bullying in K-12 schools, particularly as it pertains to queer students and their intersecting identities. Hillary has presented at national conferences on body/fat positivity in the queer community and plans to continue these conversations at UMass. In her free time, Hillary loves to do anything outdoors (hiking, skiing, napping), watch any TV show featuring Gordon Ramsey, and create music.

Amelia, Undergraduate Staff

Born and raised in New York City, Amelia is a junior studying Computer Graphic Design through the BDIC program at UMass. She hopes to complete her major within the next two years and have time for having a life of fun. Amelia was president of her GSA for her last three years in high school. Amelia hopes that her time at the Stonewall Center will help to make this large University eventually feel small and familiar like the flowers in your backyard. Amelia adores crafting, hiking, horseback riding, astrology, rowing, and long walks in the fall foliage. Amelia is ready to take on the challenge and make events in demand happen!

Andy, Undergraduate Staff

Andrew, from Lexington, MA, is a political science and economics major who has begun pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the University's Center for Public Policy & Administration. In addition to the Stonewall Center, Andrew works for the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and is a member of the Student Conduct Hearing Board and the University Appeals Board. He is also assisting MotherWoman, a nonprofit organization located in Hadley, with their legislative advocacy efforts. Some of his past pursuits include serving as Public Policy Associate at the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, Legal Assistant at Curran & Berger LLP Immigration Law Offices, Legislative Intern at the Massachusetts State House, and Course Assistant at the Boston Museum of Science. Andrew is planning to pursue a career in government or nonprofit administration following his studies. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, exploring the outdoors, playing video games, and meeting new people. He is excited to continue working at the Stonewall Center and to further contribute to this vibrant community.

Daniel, Undergraduate Staff

Daniel is a second-year student at UMass currently majoring in Communication and minoring in Economics. Coming all the way from Reseda, California, he hopes to help the LGBTQ community in any way he can by becoming a part of the community and seeing how to progress it to the next step. He loves expanding his horizons and experiencing what each year of his life has to bring. Daniel founded the GSA at his conservative high school and has worked for the Stonewall Center for a year now. Daniel loves art (especially M.C. Escher and Tim Burton), Marvel Comics (1990s X-men), and the Disney franchise (Lilo & Stitch, Finding Nemo, and TRON) so you can talk to him for hours about that. He hopes to work hard to make equality, peace, and love spread as far as the world will let him and create a better place for everyone to live in. He loves helping people and strives to have an effect on people's lives and hearts.

David, Undergraduate Staff

David was born and raised in Worcester, where he developed into a great musician. It all began one Christmas when he got a keyboard and taught himself how to play, and little did he know at the time, this would be his calling. He is perusing his undergraduates degree in Music Education, with piano and violin as his main instruments. David comes to the Stonewall Center with a couple things in mind. One, he hopes to learn as much as possible in order to be prepared when he goes off in the world to become a music teacher. He is aiming to be the kind of teacher whom any student can go to for any help and be a strong, positive role model for students, gay or straight. He also wants to become a part of a community that never really existed in his life until coming to UMass. It may be a given, since he's a music major, but his favorite hobby is simply playing and performing music from Bach to Rachmaninoff. He also likes to go out with friends and dance the night away to any kind of music. David is friendly and a very easy person to talk to, so if you see him on campus, don't be afraid to strike up a conversation.

Emma, Undergraduate Staff

Coming from Duxbury, MA, Emma is a sophomore in Biology and Microbiology. She hopes to complete her majors, as well as the 5-year Masters program in Microbiology, and aim for a job at the Centers for Disease Control. Coming from a relatively sheltered town, working at a place like the Stonewall Center (an establishment practically bubbling over with gay diversity) is a dream come true. Though she was president of her high school’s newly formed GSA for two years, the rich cultural awareness that she finds at UMass is quite endearing for her. She hopes that her time at the Stonewall Center will help to make a difference in her local community, and that people will feel comfortable coming to her in times of need. Emma adores Shakespeare, video games, guitar, astrology, mythology, and folklore. Humorous and charismatic, Emma is eager to host as many Open Mic Nights as possible this semester!

Eric, Undergraduate Staff

Eric is a sophomore political science and communication double major from the cozy coastal town of Kingston, Massachusetts. As an avid activist, Eric comes to the Stonewall Center with years of advocacy under his belt for a range of issues and political candidates. In addition to his leadership position as Communication Director for the University Democrats, Eric works for several political campaigns and has worked consistently with LGBT advocacy groups, including the Human Rights Campaign and the Service Members Legal Defense Network. Eric enjoys listening to a range of music from Lady Gaga to classical music, reading, writing slam poetry, feeding into his internet addiction, going into town, playing pick-up sports in his side yard and making a difference in people's lives. Both silly and serious at times, Eric hopes to be able to reach out to the LGBT community at UMass and make it a nicer place for gay and straight people alike.

Mitch, Undergraduate Staff

Mitch was born in Houston, but was raised in the cozy Massachusetts town of Franklin. Currently a sophomore at UMass, Mitch is pursuing a double major in Journalism and History. A leading member of his high school's GSA and a proud member of UMass's Speakers Bureau, Mitch is a strong leader in the LGBT community at UMass. Mitch hopes to someday work with larger LGBT organizations such as HRC or GLSEN. Outside of Stonewall, Mitch enjoys hanging with his bros in Southwest, getting late night burgers at the Baby Berk, and spending long hours playing Skyrim and avoiding Spanish homework. Feel free to hit him up when you need a friend, an ally, or a teammate in a round of KanJam.

Tony, Undergraduate Staff

Tony, from the shady streets of Lynn, Massachusetts, is currently a sophomore. He is pursuing a double major of Communications and Psychology, as well as a minor in Secondary Education and a Film Studies Certificate. During his spare time, he enjoys photography, Zumba, and taking naps everywhere on campus. Although he is quite eccentric, surely enough, he is very kind, friendly, and supportive. If one ever needs help or assistance, Tony will do everything he can to make sure the problem is solved. Tony is more than ready to work at the Stonewall Center to help anybody and everybody.