Dwayne Steward joined Equality Ohio as Executive Director in September, 2024. Steward joins Equality Ohio having previously served as director of inclusive excellence, accessibility & belonging of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and he is the founder and CEO of Make It Better Consulting. Dwayne assumes executive leadership responsibility for Equality Ohio and Equality Ohio Education Fund, providing strategic, administrative, and financial stewardship of the 25-person team with responsibility for direct organizational development, fundraising/resource development, policy/advocacy, organizing, and external relations, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders to advance Equality Ohio’s mission.

Sheena Barnes (she/her, they/them) is Equality Ohio’s inaugural Director of People and Culture. In this brand-new role, Sheena leads the agency’s Human Resources department and spearheads the development and implementation of its equity and inclusion strategy. She brings a wealth of experience in public policy, organizational leadership, and equity-centered advocacy, making her a vital addition to the team. Sheena’s career reflects a deep commitment to justice and intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community. In 2019, they made history as the first Black and openly queer woman elected to the Toledo Public Schools Board of Education—a landmark achievement archived in the Library of Congress. Sheena successfully retained her seat through a write-in campaign in 2023, further demonstrating leadership and dedication to equitable education. As the former Executive Director of Equality Toledo and founder of Just ACTS LLC, Sheena has worked to address systemic oppression at local, state, and national levels. Her advocacy continues to center equity, access, and intersectionality.

Jen Scott (she/her/hers) is a native Ohioan from Forest Park, Ohio. She attended Northwestern University earning a degree in Chemistry.  After returning to Ohio, she embarked on a successful career in information technology and established her own consulting firm. In 2015, she began another path in life, that of a community organizer and grassroots activist. She became very involved with the atheist and secular movement, driven by a passion for separation of religion and government. She believes strongly that an individual’s right to religious freedom should not infringe on the rights of others.  Jen joined Equality Ohio in 2019 as the Southwest Ohio Regional Organizer.  She now serves the Director of Advocacy working with the state and local advocacy teams to make real change. Jen previously served as the first Steward for the Equality Ohio Workers United Union. She has a commitment to cross-movement social justice work. She currently serves as Board Chair for American Atheists, a national civil rights organization and as Vice President for Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati. She previously served on the board of Cincinnati Pride, as Director of Compliance and Parade Chair. Jen was recently recognized for her LGBTQ+ advocacy by the City of Cincinnati and received the Rafiki award in 2024 presented by Cincinnati Black Pride. In her spare time, she expresses her love of science by running Science on Tap Cincinnati, a science education program.

Kieran Robertson (they/them) is the Director of Development at Equality Ohio. He joined the agency in March 2022. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Kieran came to Columbus to study at The Ohio State University. Here they earned a Master's Degree in Public History in 2015. Prior to joining the Equality Ohio team, Kieran was a Curator at the Ohio History Connection, where they managed the LGBTQ+ archival collection. They are excited to continue in the legacy of the many LGBTQ+ advocates that they have encountered in the archives!

MD Sitzes (p. they/she) is dedicated to driving the mission of Equality Ohio through strategic communication initiatives. With a proven track record, MD excels in shaping and disseminating compelling narratives that raise awareness, foster inclusivity, and promote positive change. In this pivotal role, MD oversees internal and external communication strategies, managing press relations, social media campaigns, and content creation across programs to ensure consistent messaging aligned with organizational goals. Their adept handling of LGBTQ+ issues contributes to public discourse and policy advocacy, while their commitment to just storytelling fosters a positive public image for the organization. MD is a key player in galvanizing Equality Ohio's voice and advancing its mission in the dynamic landscape of LGBTQ+ rights.

Sérah Munroe is the Strategic Relations Advisor for Equality Ohio.   Former Creative Director of Prizm Magazine & Strategy Development at Equitas Health plus a 25+ year career in Marketing, Sérah’s sight’s spawn sponsorships and partnership platforms across the creative / corporate and publishing / PR industries. Limited Brands, Hollywood film sets, New York Fashion Week and endless editorials trust her instincts for impactful visualization turned emotionally intelligent regional business development-strategy.    Sérah vigorously fights for equality as a frequent LGBTQ+ advocacy speaker, ambassador, advisor and meeting-maker. Her magic historically increases healthy relational equity between intersecting interest groups and collaborators, for Sérah introduces people to themselves.      Sérah’s storytelling strengths spell sustainable systems wherever dignity within our shared human experience and creative connection are concerned.

Gio Santiago (he/him), is the Events and Volunteer Coordinator for Equality Ohio. He is an advocate for transgender individuals, an honorably disabled military veteran, and non-profit leader. Earning an associate’s degree in Public Administration from Lorain County Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Delaware State University. He founded META Center Inc. in 2016, a non-profit dedicated to educating, motivating, and inspiring transgender youth and young adults in need of resources and support. He is a trusted voice in the LGBTQ community, having facilitated workshops at the TransOhio Symposium, Trans in the CLE, the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, and Kent State University.  Santiago was named one of Cleveland Magazine's Most Interesting People for 2018, was nominated for and made NBC News NBCOut’s #Pride30 list, and was selected as Equality Ohio’s 2018 Advocate Honoree for Northeast Ohio. In 2019 he was the Keynote Speaker for the Transgender Job fair hosted by METRO Health, and in 2022 he was inducted into the Lorain City Schools Alumni Hall Fame. Gio is a returning team member, formerly at Equality Ohio from 2019-2022. His passion for advocacy comes from being a child of a teacher, a former teacher himself, and someone who just loves to see others win. His motto is “I’m the dopest person I ever met, and I always bet on myself.” 

Maya Simek, ESQ, LISW-S, MSSA, serves as a Legal Consultant at Equality Ohio, where she developed, launched (2019), and is now supervising a state-wide legal clinic for the lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer (LGBTQ+) community.  Ms. Simek further serves as a Clinical Law Professor/Director of Case Western Reserve School of Law’s Human Trafficking Law Project. She focuses her practice on the interdisciplinary issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community and human trafficking survivors, community lawyering, and the intersections between law and social work. Ms. Simek earned her J.D.  from Cleveland State University College of Law, her M.S.S.A from Case Western Reserve’s Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, her B.S. from John Carroll University, and is a proud graduate of the Gestalt Training Program (GTP) at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland (GIC). In addition, she is an Ohio Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision designation (LISW-S).

 

Joseph Ze Soza (he/him/el) is the Central Ohio organizer at Equality Ohio. He is an activist, creator, and community organizer with an intersectional vision for social change. He is incredibly passionate about the lived equity of other LGBTQ+ Latin(e) individuals. He brings this passion to his current Central Ohio Regional Organizer role with Equality Ohio. Joseph graduated from Malone University, studying history, global-international studies, and sociology. Additionally, he studied Mandarin and Chinese cultural history at the Dalian University of Foreign Languages, where he also taught the English language. Joseph has experience with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission Fellowship program. He worked for Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko and later for Senator Teresa Fedor, where he served as her legislative aide. He is an alumnus and current Board Member of the Columbus New Leaders Council. Additionally, he serves as a board member for the Ohio League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Avanzamos Unidos, a branch of the Young Latino Network. In his own time, Joseph enjoys writing, cooking, and participating in creative projects, including a feature in Carlos Motta’s multichannel sound installation, The Columbus Assembly, which a Wexner Center Artist Residency Award supported. He is also a student of Capoeira.

Leandrah Alexis (they/them) is the first-ever Mahoning Valley Organizer at Equality Ohio. In this groundbreaking role, they are dedicated to fostering deep regional collaboration and advancing Equality Ohio’s mission in the Mahoning Valley. Leandrah is an active member of Mahoning Valley Queer Action and serves on the board of the Youngstown chapter of PFLAG. They bring a wealth of experience from their previous work at the Raymond John Wean Foundation as an Associate of Race Equity and Inclusion Data, where they developed skills in youth programming, volunteer coordination, equitable data collection, grant writing, and nonprofit leadership. Leandrah is also passionate about HIV/AIDS advocacy and education, having organized the 2023 World AIDS Day celebration at the Full Spectrum Community Outreach Center.

Madelyn Smith (she/her) joined Equality Ohio in 2023 as the Northeast Ohio Organizer. Originally from Parma Ohio, she studied Religion and Classics at Hope College where she developed passions for LGBTQ+ and interfaith advocacy. She has years of experience working with religious as well as non-religious organizations doing outreach to LGBTQ+ people of faith, and is passionate about building community in Northeast Ohio and connecting more people in all parts of the region to the services, resources, and connections they need.

Jessi Sadaka (they/them) joined the Equality Ohio team in September 2023 as Finance Administration Assistant. They are excited to provide financial support for organized advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, equality, and belonging, by bringing to bear their expertise from the retail banking world and from prior non-profit accounting experience. Jessi received their BA from The College of Wooster.

Em Pate (they/them) is the Southwest Ohio Attorney for the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic. While in law school, Em interned with the Legal Clinic in 2021 and continued to work as a post-graduate fellow for the clinic until they were hired as the Southwest Ohio Attorney in 2023. As a young attorney, their areas of practice continue to grow with the guidance of the other attorneys in the clinic. Particularly close to their heart, though, is the ability to help provide legal name changes for trans Ohioans. Being able to help individuals live their lives and be addressed by the name that reflects them best is a particularly rewarding part of Em’s work with the clinic.

Justin Joseph (he/him) joined Equality Ohio as Northeast Ohio Staff Attorney in 2023. Now based in Cleveland, he honed his legal skills by practicing family law in Illinois after obtaining his J.D. and passing the Illinois bar in 2014. Justin's commitment to social causes is evident through his volunteer work in criminal expungements and homeless outreach. He also assists migrant families in navigating the complexities of the immigration system. As he combines his legal acumen with his values, Justin remains poised to shape a brighter future for LGBTQ+ Ohioans.

Kate Mozynski (they/them) is Associate Director of Legal Operations in the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic. They are a Dallas native, but have made Ohio a second home. Kate attended the College of Wooster, where they earned a degree in International Relations, and they are a graduate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Kate is an experienced litigation attorney and has frequently represented clients in discrimination cases, complex family law issues, and in numerous other case types. Kate is a passionate advocate for members of the LGBTQ+ community and is dedicated to working to extend access to justice to queer individuals across Ohio.  Kate was recently named as one of the National LBGTQ+ Bar Association's 40 Best Attorneys Under 40. They are a proud member of the LGBTQ+ Bar and National Center for Lesbian Rights' Family Law Institute. Kate is a frequent presenter to legal professionals both in Ohio and nationally. They focus primarily on teaching attorneys professional skills for culturally humble, ethical, and trauma-informed representation of LGBTQ+ clients. When they are not at work, Kate coaches high school debate and is devoted to helping make Ohio debate a supportive educational environment for LGBTQ+ students. They are also an avid organic gardener, environmentalist, and devoted cat parent. Kate is based in the Cleveland office.

Sol A. Kersey, MA, JD (they/them/theirs) is Equality Ohio Legal Clinic’s Legal Specialist. Sol’s areas of focus include negotiation/mediation, family law, and the intersection of theory & praxis, with a particular emphasis on Critical Race Theory, Black Feminist Theory, and Modern Feminism/Social Justice. Before joining Equality Ohio Legal Clinic, Sol served as a Legal Fellow at the African American Policy Forum, working under Kimberlé Crenshaw. Sol has served as Visiting Faculty at Miami University, teaching Introduction to Women’s & Gender Studies and Introduction to Critical Race & Ethnic Studies. They live in Cincinnati, with their husband and two cats.

Becky Sullivan (she/her) is a staff attorney from Cleveland, Ohio. She obtained her BA in English and Political Science from Cleveland State University in 2020. Currently, she remains at Cleveland State where she is pursuing her J.D. from CM Law. Becky is committed to using her law degree for the benefit of the community. She hopes to use her legal skills to increase access and transparency in the law. When she isn't studying, Becky spends her time with friends and family, cooking, and enjoying a good sunset. Becky is excited to spend her summer working alongside LGBTQ+ advocates and continue the values she learns at Equality Ohio throughout her legal career.

Leslie Johns, Esq. (she/her)  is the Intake Specialist in the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic. In addition to her role as Intake Specialist, Leslie is a criminal defense attorney and a Magistrate at Shaker Heights Municipal Court. Leslie was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio and now resides just down the road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Leslie attended Bowling Green State University, where she earned her degree in Criminal Justice in 2011. Leslie returned to Cleveland after completing her undergraduate degree and attended Cleveland State University’s Cleveland Marshall College of Law where she graduated in 2014. When Leslie is not working and serving on boards and committees, she is soaking up precious time with her family and friends.

kim@equalityohio.org Kim Welter (she/her/hers) is CEO of KLW Consulting, LLC which supports LGBTQ and affiliated advocacy organizations with policy expertise. Her primary client is Equality Ohio where she holds the responsibilities of Director of Finance and Special Projects after previously serving as Deputy Director and Director of Programs and Outreach while on staff. She also briefly served as interim Executive Director; with over fifteen years of experience with the organization, she is Equality Ohio’s most seasoned consultant. She joined the organization as staff in 2008 after serving as the Executive Director of Equality Toledo for over 2 years. A graduate of University of Michigan, she got her secondary teaching certificate through the University of Findlay and her Master of Arts and Education from the University of Toledo where she taught composition for 3 years. Kim is a 2009/2010 graduate of the Center for Progressive Leadership. In 2010, Kim took a leave of absence from Equality Ohio to serve as Campaign Manager for the ONE Bowling Green Campaign in Bowling Green, Ohio which successfully defended two local non-discrimination ordinances from a ballot initiative to repeal.  In 2019, Kim completed her Capstone Project to earn a Certificate in LGBTQ Juvenile Justice as a fellow with the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform out of Georgetown University.  

mary@equalityohio.org Mary Zaller (she/her/hers) joined Equality Ohio in November of 2014. For the previous 3 years she was the Director of Development for the ninth quadrennial international Gay Games, which were held in Cleveland and Akron in August, 2014. She oversaw all fundraising for Gay Games 9, which were the first Gay Games in history to finish in the black and with a surplus. Mary has worked in the LGBTQ Community in Cleveland since 2003, and is a strong advocate for social justice and systemic change. Previously she worked in the broadcast special effects industry in Europe and Los Angeles. Mary is a Cleveland native and resides in Ohio City.