LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education will hold its Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 14, 2026 at 3:00 pm Eastern. Members will have the opportunity to hear about the activities of the organization, with an update on our strategic plan, and vote on a slate of candidates for positions on the Board of Directors. Annual awards will also be given at the meeting including the LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education’s inaugural Leadership Impact Award.

The Annual Meeting is scheduled as a session of the Leadership Institute and will be held in Fannie Lou Hamer Hall, on the Atlantic City campus of Stockton University. Registered participants at the Leadership Institute are invited to attend and participate, but only members of the association (as recorded on October 10, 2026) will be allowed to vote. 

Members may be Individual Members or they may be designees of Institutional Members. Members need not be registered for the Leadership Institute to attend, but attendance in person (or by proxy) is required to vote. To renew your membership or join, click here.

The Board’s Governance and Nominations committee (Kristin Esterberg, chair) has forwarded the following slate of candidates to serve three year terms. The full board endorsed this slate at its September 2026 meeting.

Board Candidates (new)

Terry Brown is Vice President for Academic Innovation and Transformation at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. She oversees a division that provides programming and services to assist members fulfill their academic mission primarily in the areas of civic engagement, international education, student success, and teacher education. She served for nearly twenty-five years in the University of Wisconsin System as tenured faculty in the field of English and academic leader at the University of Wisconsin River Falls and provost at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. Most recently, she served as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the State University of New York at Fredonia. In nearly twenty years of academic leadership, Terry Brown has led colleges and universities in integrated and strategic academic and enrollment planning, aligning budget and space resources to academic priorities. Terry holds a doctorate in English from the University of Florida and bachelor’s and master’s of arts in English from Virginia Tech. For her first term: 2026-2029.

Louisa Krause (she/her) is the Director for the Center for Teaching and Learning at Macomb Community College. Louisa holds an Ed.D. in Education Leadership and Professional Practice, Social Justice Leadership from Antioch University, an M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Integrating Technology from George Mason University and a B.A. in Elementary Education, Mathematics, and Language Arts from Western Michigan University. She joined Macomb Community College in 2017 as the part time Curriculum and Assessment Specialist, transitioning to the full time Academic Initiatives & Assessment Coordinator in 2018, then the Director of Instructional Technology and Online Learning, working with faculty and administrators across the college. Now as the Director of the CTL, she leads a variety of college initiatives related to assessment, accreditation compliance, faculty professional development, instructional technology, committee work, and strategic planning. First appointed February 2026. For her first full term: 2026-2029.

Chicora Martin serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA. Previously, Chicora was at Mills College in Oakland, CA as the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students (2015-2022), and at the University of Oregon (2000-2015) serving as the Assistant Dean of Students, Director of the LGBT Education and Support Services, and Area Director for the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence. Chicora’s has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for NASPA (2022-2024), as well as Region V Knowledge Community Chair for LGBT Issues; 2018 faculty and 2020 Faculty Director for the Manicur Institute. Chicora also served as co-chair for the National Consortium of LGBT Resource Professionals, member of the American College Personnel Association’s Standing Committee for LGBT Concerns, and ACPA Senior Student Affairs Officer Advisory board member. Chicora serves on the board of Atlanta Pride, the largest free pride event in the U.S. Chicora was honored as the 2015 ACPA Voice of Inclusion Medallion recipient and by the Consortium of LGBT Resource Professionals as the 2014 Contribution to the Profession awardee. Chicora received a doctorate from Colorado State University in Educational Leadership and Human Resource Studies, a master’s degree in College Student Personnel with a concentration in LGBTQ services from the Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Science from East Carolina University. Chicora’s research and teaching interests include the intersections of higher education policy and gender identity, as well as marine conservation and emergency management/crisis response.

Board Candidates (re-election)

Lori Ciccomascolo (she/her) serves as Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, William Paterson University. She was previously the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Springfield College. Prior to that she served as Associate Vice President of Student Success at the University of Rhode Island as well as Dean of the College of Human Science and Services and Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies at URI. She is a former American Council on Education Fellow. For a second term: 2026-2029.

Kristin G. Esterberg (she/her) is chancellor of University of Washington Bothell. Prior to joining UWB, Esterberg was president of SUNY Potsdam. She served as provost at Salem State University in Massachusetts and as deputy provost at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. A sociologist, her research centers on gender and sexuality, research methodology, and social organization and change. For a second term: 2026-2029.

Kenro Kusumi (he/him) is Senior Vice Provost and Dean of The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. He is also Professor in the School of Life Sciences, whose laboratory works to advance the conservation and evolution of reptiles. Dr. Kusumi is committed to promoting inclusive excellence in higher education, and he is working to create more supportive STEM environments, including serving as mentor and faculty advisor in university LGBTQ+ organizations. For a second term: 2026-2029.

Board Officers (2026-27)

Also up for election, is the President-elect. The Governance and Nominations committee has put forward Lori Ciccomoscolo, and the full board has endorsed that nomination.

Click here to see the full list of current board members.

The Annual Meeting of the LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education will take place on October 15, 2025, at 3:00 pm (Central) at the Leadership Institute in Milwaukee. Members will have the opportunity to vote on a slate of new (and renewing) board members.

The new candidates are Brian Cain, Endicott College; George F. Kacenga, William Paterson University; Michelle Fischthal, San Diego Community College District; Susan Henking, Wells College; and Jonathan Herbert, The Julliard School. Standing for renewed terms are Kevin Leonard, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Luca Lewis, Ventura College; and Daniel Lopez, Harold Washington College.

Brian Cain is Interim President at Endicott College. He is drawn to the mission of LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education, as it resonates with his personal and professional values. He writes, “Throughout my career, I have been an advocate for creating inclusive spaces where everyone, regardless of their background or identity, can thrive. I believe that my experience in strategic leadership, market development, and collaborative engagement will enable me to contribute meaningfully to the Board’s efforts in advancing LGBTQ leadership in higher education.”

Michelle Fischthal is Vice Chancellor of Institutional Innovation and Effectiveness at the San Diego Community College District. She writes, “For the past two years, I have served on the Institute Planning Committee for LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education, helping to design programming that fosters leadership development and connection among LGBTQ+ professionals, and I am currently serving on the programming and membership committee. As a queer higher education executive, I am committed to being visibly present both within and beyond LGBTQ+ spaces and offering representation, advocacy, and a point of connection for others navigating leadership roles.”

George F. Kacenga is Vice President for Enrollment Management at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. He was previously with M Square Media (MSM), where he served as assistant vice president in the global marketing office. In this role, he worked with universities on enrollment management, prospect engagement, student recruitment, and new student on-boarding. He also served as executive director of undergraduate admissions and executive director of global engagement at Purdue University Northwest, and at University of Colorado Denver as director of international enrollment management.

Susan Henking has been a leader in higher education for decades, as faculty member and administrator at Hobart and William Smith, as president at Shimer College, Salem Academy and College, and Wells College. A passionate advocate of liberal arts education and religious studies, Susan was a co-founder of what was then called LGB Studies at HWS and taught and published  regularly at the intersection of religious studies and LGBTQ studies, including the landmark co-edited book QUEERYING RELIGION. She lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York with her partner Betty Bayer and their dog Bunty (soon to be joined by a sister named Frankie).  

Jonathan Herbert is Associate Provost for Admissions at the Julliard School. His previous experience has included the Manhattan School of Music, where he oversaw the management of over $50 million of institutional and federal funds, and The New School. He joined the Finance Committee of the LGBTQ Leaders in December 2024.

Richard Helldobler currently serves as Past-President of the Board and President at William Paterson University. He is a candidate for the position of Chair of the Council of Presidents. The Chair of the Council of Presidents serves as a member of the Board of Directors.

Board officers for 2025-26 will also be selected. Kristin Esterberg will move from Board President to Past-President, while Joe Bertolino will move from President-elect to President. Members will vote on whether to approve Jonathan Herbert as Treasurer (two year term), Daniel Lopez, as secretary (two year term), and George Kacenga as President-elect (one year term, to become President in 2026-27).