joseph@equalityohio.org Joseph Soza (he/him/el) was brought to this work with a passion for social change, and a vision for a more equitable and affirming Ohio. He graduated with a BA from Malone University where he studied history, global-international studies, and sociology. Additionally, he studied Mandarin and Chinese cultural history at the Dalian University of Foreign […]

Kathryn Poe (She/They) joined the Equality Ohio team in 2021 as a Policy Organizer. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from Capital University, with a focus on health policy, bioethics, and disability studies. Kathryn has volunteered with organizations such as Be the Match, T1International, and the Arthritis Foundation on rare disease […]

MD Spicer-Sitzes (p. they/she) is an accomplished writer, educator, and organizer with success building strong communications, relationships and capacity via strategic implementation of equitable frameworks. Methods include: user centered design, action research, sustainable work culture design, and an overall expansive, creative approach to communications. MD holds a master’s degree in Urban Sustainability. In addition to […]

Kim Burroughs (she/her/hers) is a Staff Attorney in the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic. She graduated from the Ohio State University College of Law in 2016. Prior to joining Equality Ohio, Kim worked primarily in the field of criminal law. She began her career as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Delaware County, Ohio and then worked […]

Rev. James Triplett (he/him/his) is a native of Michigan, has traveled and lived throughout the Midwest and southern states, developing faith-based organizations and places of worship, using his extensive training as management and organizational leadership.

jen@equalityohio.org 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 […]

leslie@equalityohio.org Leslie Johns (she/her/hers) is the Intake Specialist in the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic. She 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 […]

kate@equalityohio.org Kate Mozynski (she/they) is an attorney in the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic. She is a Dallas native, but has made Ohio her second home. Kate attended the College of Wooster, where she earned her degree in International Relations, and she is a 2016 graduate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Prior to […]

gio@equalityohio.org Giovonni Santiago (he/him/his) is a Northeast Ohio native, transgender advocate, military veteran and founder of META Center Inc, a non-profit dedicated to educating, motivating and inspiring transgender youth in need of resources and support. With a certification in Coaching and Mentoring, Santiago’s educational background aligns with his passion of empowering LGBTQ individuals and creating […]

dominic@equalityohio.org Dominic Detwiler (he/him/his) is a graduate of Ohio University where he studied Sociology with Minors in Psychology, Political Science, and Music. The focus of his research was on the relationships between environmental and LGBTQ movements. As Public Policy Strategist, Dominic works primarily on advancing Equality Ohio’s objectives at the Ohio Statehouse, including passing the […]

kelley@equalityohio.org Kelley Fox (she/they) is a recent graduate of Ohio Northern University, where she received her B. A. in Literature and Creative Writing. She’s currently pursuing her Masters of Social Justice and Masters in Divinity at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio. Kelley got her start in 2016 and 2017, when she led the Out […]

emily@equalityohio.org Emily Meyer (she/her/hers) is a Staff Attorney in the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic. She graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law in 2008. After a number of years practicing law in Cincinnati, including both transactional and litigation work, she returned to graduate school to pursue an M.A. in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality […]

maya@equalityohio.org Maya Simek (she/her/hers) serves as the Legal Director at Equality Ohio, where she she has spent the past year developing and launching a state-wide legal clinic for the lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer (LGBTQ+) community. Ms. Simek further serves as a Clinical Law Professor and Co-Director of Case Western Reserve’s Health & Human Trafficking […]

kim@equalityohio.org Kim Welter (she/her/hers) is CEO of KLW Consulting, LLC which supports LGBTQ and affiliated advocacy organizations with HR, finance, board and policy expertise. Her primary client is Equality Ohio where she holds the responsibilities of Director of Finance and Policy after previously serving as Deputy Director and Director of Programs and Outreach while on staff. She also briefly […]

siobhan@equalityohio.org Siobhan Boyd-Nelson (she/her/hers) joined Equality Ohio as the Development Director in 2018. She received her B.A. in Legal Communication from Howard University in 2002. She returned home to Columbus and earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2005. Her involvement in Columbus’ LGBTQ community began shortly thereafter and […]

rai@equalityohio.org Raisa Mathis (she/her/hers) joined Equality Ohio in September 2013 and is a recent grad of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She got her start in the movement as a student organizer on the One Bowling Green Campaign in 2010. Her experience with One BG ignited a […]

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 […]

gwen@equalityohio.org Gwen Stembridge (she/her/hers) comes to this work through a passion for bringing people together across barriers. In addition to being reared in a LGBTQ-affirming faith community in Atlanta and graduating from a women’s college in South Carolina, she was compelled to serve as a fellow in the Interfaith Youth Core, the Episcopal Service Corps, and […]

alana@equalityohio.org Alana Jochum (she/her/hers) is an attorney and Executive Director of Equality Ohio. She received her B.A. in English and B.S. in Psychology from Baldwin Wallace University and has been passionately engaged in the fight for LGBTQ equality at the local, state, national, and international level for more than a decade. Alana spent time in […]