Board Positions Open

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The Board of Directors seeks new members for the Board and for Board committees

The Board of Directors seeks to fill two types of openings: at least three (3) positions for a current or former president, chancellor, or campus CEO; and up to three (3) positions for candidates in any position in higher education. 

The board meets at least five times a year, at least one time in person, usually associated with the Leadership Institute in October. A two-day retreat may be held in person in June 2026. The Governance and Nominating Committee will propose a slate for ratification by the Members at the Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 15, 2025. 

To be considered for either opportunity, candidates must be nominated by the Governance and Nominating Committee (Richard Helldobler, Past-President, chair). Candidates for Board committees are approved by a vote of the Board at any scheduled Board meeting. Standing committees of the Board, for which nominations are accepted, include Finance, Program and Membership, and Governance and Nominating. 
Interested members should send a letter of interest and cv to Jim Berg (jberg @ lgbtqpresidents.org) by August 4, 2025.

Annual Awards Nominations Open

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To recognize outstanding leadership across the profession, LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education presents two distinct honors annually. Both awards reflect our mission to celebrate inclusive excellence, support professional development, and advocate for LGBTQ+ issues in higher education.

The Founders Award was given for the first time in 2024 to Chuck Middleton (second from right) and Ray Crossman, shown here at the Leadership Institute with Board President Kristin Esterberg (r) and Board Member Mel Netzhammer (l). (Theo Kalikow was also awarded, not shown.)

Founders Award

To honor a legacy of transformative leadership by a senior LGBTQ+ higher education executive who has dedicated at least 20 years to championing equity, innovation, and inclusion across institutions.

Eligibility
Nominees must:

  • Identify as LGBTQ+
  • Have 20 or more years of service in higher education.
  • Hold or have held a senior executive role (e.g., president, chancellor, provost, senior vice president).
  • Demonstrate significant and sustained leadership that has transformed institutional culture and outcomes for individuals of all identities.
  • Must be a member in good standing of LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education

Selection Criteria

  • Service to the Field: Extensive and impactful career contributions.
  • Exemplary Leadership: Visionary leadership recognized across the profession.
  • Institutional Transformation: Proven innovations that enhanced equity and inclusion.

Emerging Leader Award

To celebrate and support early- to mid-career LGBTQ+ professionals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to LGBTQ+ equity within higher education.

Eligibility
Nominees must:

  • Identify as LGBTQ+
  • Work in a higher education setting (administration, faculty, student affairs, etc.)
  • Have 5–10 years of leadership experience in higher education
  • Demonstrate ongoing contributions to LGBTQ+ inclusion through research, programming, advocacy, or other efforts.
  • Must be a member in good standing of LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education

Selection Criteria

  • Leadership Excellence: Proven ability to lead inclusive initiatives.
  • Advocacy and Impact: Measurable influence on campus climate, policy, or equity outcomes.
  • Innovation: Creative solutions to address challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.
    Community Engagement: Collaboration with stakeholders to build supportive networks.
    Professional Development: Dedication to growth and mentorship of others.

Nomination Process

Nomination Period
July 7 – August 11, 2025

Who Can Nominate

  • Colleagues
  • Supervisors
  • Self-nominations are welcome

Nomination Requirements

  • A letter detailing the nominee’s qualifications and impact
  • The nominee’s current résumé or CV
  • At least one letter of support (required for self-nominations; encouraged for all others)
  • Optional: A portfolio of supporting work (e.g., publications, media, programs, or research)
  • Founders Award: submit here.
  • Emerging Leaders Award: submit here.

Give Out Day, June 5, 2025

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Give Out Day 2025 is June 5, but we’re asking early so we can get a jump on the LGBTQ giving season.

Here’s a message from Joe Bertolino, President of Stockton University, and President-Elect of the LGBTQ Leaders Board.

We need $7,500 to replace some of what we expect to lose in institutional memberships in 2025. Please give $500 to help us reach our goal of $7,500. That will replace the loss of 3 large institutional memberships.

If that amount is too much for you, please know that gifts of any amount will help. In fact, we have identified $4,000 in matching funds. So for every dollar you give, a generous donor will match that money, doubling your impact.

Around the country, LGBTQ leaders need support, mentoring, and professional development. Often they can only find away from their home institutions. Together, we can support our colleagues and strengthen higher education leadership around the country.

Please click here or on the DONATE button above to give today.

Higher Education Stands Up

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The LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education supports the AAC&U Call for Constructive Engagement. We must do everything in our power to reject the current administration’s illegal overreach into college and university affairs, from the targeting of DEI programs and the withholding of approved research funds, to the specific erasure of trans people. Many of our member presidents have signed. We urge college and university leaders to add their names. 

Virtual Mentoring Circles

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In case you missed it

Kristin Esterberg, Board President; Jim Berg, Executive Director; and Kirby Knipp, Program Coordinator hosted an information webinar on April 18, 2025 about the program and how to apply.  You may watch the video here.

For more information on the program, see our mentoring page.

Leadership Matters

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This week we kicked off our Spring membership drive. Our message is that queer leadership in higher education matters more than ever.

We are the only national organization dedicated to developing LGBTQ+ leadership in higher education. The new administration is doing its best to sow chaos in higher education and in the LGBTQ+ community. But we will not be erased. 

That was our message. It’s not unusual to get a few unsubscribe requests when you send out a thousand emails. We all do it. Sometimes there’s a reason listed, such as “this information is no longer relevant for me.” This week, we got the two statements below. The first refers to an lgbtq student group at Iowa State University (bad grammar in the original). The second is from an individual working in higher education in Texas.

Our message continued…

We will continue to serve our mission, doubling down on our commitment to promoting and elevating queer leaders. For us, that is the best way to push back against the forces arrayed against us. And we need individual members now more than ever to achieve our goals. As a member, you will have access to free or low-cost programs, discounts on fees for the Leadership Institute and our new mentoring program, and the opportunity to qualify for fellowships. Join today.

Watch for announcements of new and expanded programming. Take a look at our new RESOURCES page. Your membership matters.

Our Virtual Town Hall

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On January 16, 2025, LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education held a Virtual Town Hall for members to discuss concerns about changes that are coming from the new administration in Washington, DC. Since then, we have seen swift actions at the federal level that validate those concerns. 

Read about what we heard at the Town Hall https://conta.cc/4gIGPFu

Membership Elects New Board Members and Officers, Approves Strategic Plan

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The Annual Meeting of the LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education was held in Bothell, Washington, on October 16, 2024 at 3:15 pm. Members voted on a slate of candidates for positions on the Board of Directors and approved the 2025-27 Strategic Plan.

The Governance and Nominations Committee forwarded a slate of candidates for open board seats. The following were elected on a voice vote:

  • Joe Bertolino, President, Stockton University (NJ)
  • Merrill Irving, Jr., Senior Executive of Advisory Services, Ferrilli
  • Gillian McKnight-Tutein, Chief Educational Equity Officer at the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
  • Manny Velasquez-Paredes, Director of Career Education at the University of North Florida

Bertolino was also elected to serve as President-Elect for the 2024-25 term. Board treasurer, Dick Senese, and Board Secretary, Daniel Lopez, were re-elected to those positions. Kristin Esterberg assumed the position of President for the 2024-25 year, and Richard Helldobler assumed the position of Past-President; they will each serve in those roles until the 2025 Annual Meeting.

LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education advances effective leadership in post-secondary education, supports professional development of LGBTQ leaders, and provides education and advocacy regarding LGBTQ issues within the global academy and for the public at large.

2024 Board Elections

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The Annual Meeting of the LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education will take place on October 16, 3:15 pm at the Leadership Institute. Members will have the opportunity to vote on a strategic plan, recently endorsed by the Board of Directors. The draft strategic plan, which will guide the organization through 2027, is available below. We will have a free virtual discussion on Zoom for feedback and questions on September 30 at 2 pm Eastern, 11 am Pacific. See more information and register here. 

Members will also be asked to ratify a slate of candidates for Board membership that includes Joe Bertolino, President of Stockton University; Manny Velasquez, Director, Career Education at University of North Florida; and Gillian McKnight-Tutein, Chief Educational Equity Officer for the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

With over 30 years in higher education, Joe Bertolino has led initiatives that expand LGBTQ+ support and promote social justice. As President at Stockton University and other institutions, his leadership reflects a deep commitment to equity, fostering inclusive campus environments. Nationally recognized for his work, he has spoken across the country on LGBTQ+ rights, emphasizing dignity, kindness, respect, compassion, and civility.

Gillian McKnight-Tutein says “being accepted to the Board would mean a profound opportunity to advocate for inclusive policies, support other LGBTQ+ leaders and impact educational environments in additionally meaningful ways.”

Manuel Velasquez-Paredes says, “I am honored to be considered to join the Board of LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education, and I bring a deep commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity within our academic communities. My work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has focused on creating spaces where all voices are heard, and I am passionate about championing the needs of LGBTQ+ youth, faculty, and staff. I look forward to collaborating with fellow leaders to foster environments where everyone can thrive, both personally and professionally.”

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