President

Board Member

She/Her

Katie has called Evansville “home” since she moved here in 2008 to attend UE. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology & Criminal Justice, Katie has served children and families in a number of different capacities in the Evansville area. Katie returned to school and received her Master of Social Work degree from IUPUI in 2018; since then, she has been a practicing child & adolescent psychotherapist and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Katie is most passionate about giving LGBTQIA+ youth a safe, affirming space to help them discover & embrace their most authentic selves, as well as increasing the amount of support they receive from their families, school, and communities.

Over the past several years, Katie has also provided professional trainings & consultation to local organizations & agencies, mental health professionals, educators, parents/caregivers, healthcare providers, & legal entities on how to best affirm & support LGBTQ+ youth & adults.

When she is not social working, you can find Katie drinking iced coffee, digging into genealogical research, having full-length conversations with her dogs, cats, & rabbit, playing The Sims 4, or reading approximately 3 books at any given time.

Founder

Board Member

She/Her

Jerusha grew up in Carmi, IL and has lived in Warrick and Vanderburgh Counties for 30 years. Jerusha graduated from Oakland City University with a BA in Music and is currently enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Jerusha is married to Kathryn and is the proud mother of three children. Jerusha has worked as the Children and Youth Ministry Director at First Presbyterian Church of Evansville for 8 years. Jerusha enjoys Downtown living with her family and 3 dogs. On weekends, you can find Jerusha hanging out with friends or working on a house/yard project.

“As a child who did not find acceptance from family and friends after coming out as a lesbian, it’s my mission to cultivate spaces for others to find the love and encouragement they need to love and accept themselves. My Christian faith compels me to work for justice, strengthen the brokenhearted and protect the vulnerable. I believe that being a publicly identified advocate for queer young people as a queer person is important work. I am honored to be a part of such a wonderful collaboration with people from across the spectrum of the greater Evansville LGBTQ+ community and its allies. This work requires wisdom, integrity, empathy, compassion and transparency. We have a great team who will see this organization become a beacon of hope and support for queer folk everywhere.”

Secretary

Board Member

She/They

Ash grew up in Newburgh, but moved to Evansville in 2010. She graduated from Ivy Tech with a degree in Visual Communications. She has a knack for computers, excel, and website creation, so even though she feels way under qualified to be among this exceptional board (her words), she hopes to help out in any way she can!

She lives with her partner Daniel, two dogs, three cats, and two birds. Ash can be found at any given time doing one of the following things: spending time with friends/family, crocheting (her newest hobby), chaotically starting a project, playing video games, or reading.

"I have never met a group of people that cared more about making a positive impact on someone's life than this group of people. Being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community can be a difficult and lonely experience, but it truly is G.E.Y.'s mission to make you feel less alone and that you matter!"

Health & Safety Advisor

Board Member

He/Him

Phill grew up in rural southern Indiana and has been a part of the Evansville Community off and on for the last 13 years. He graduated from the University of Evansville with a Bachelors each in Sociology and Public Health, and a Masters in Public Health. Since graduating, Phill has been working in the social work industry among various populations (including kiddos) and helping to improve clients’ access to, knowledge of, and use of localized resources. He enjoys plants, gardening, water sports, playing board games, and loves spending time camping and being in nature. “In today’s world, a vast amount of societal expectations are placed on our youth. With the pressures of fitting into preset idealistic boxes, kiddos lose the chance to explore opportunities for growth, discover new interests, and open themselves to defying stereotypes. I believe in a space where youth can safely explore beyond the have-to’s and into the could-be’s, so they can reach into the future in a way that supports growth, goals, and possibilities."

Board Member

She/Her

Born and raised in Evansville, Kayla has been involved in nonprofit work for more than ten years. As a senior in high school, she was the youngest person to be appointed to the Board of Directors for The Literacy Center, a local nonprofit designed to teach basic adult literacy to individuals in the community.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from USI, Kayla went on to work as a Crisis Interventionist for Albion Fellows Bacon Center, specializing in domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. Today, Kayla works as a Fundraising Assistant for The Arc of Evansville.
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Kayla has always had a passion for creating safe and supportive environments for queer youth. Her expertise as a Crisis Interventionist, specialization in underserved populations, and certifications in Trauma-Informed Care, all further solidified this passion.
“The power of a supportive community cannot be overstated. It is the single most protective factor there is. So, I’m really excited and grateful to be involved with an organization whose mission it is to fill that gap for queer youth, many of whom may not find inclusion and safety elsewhere.”
In her free time, Kayla enjoys spending time with her partner and 15+ year old cat, Cannon Ball, as well as engaging in whatever hyper-fixation her ADHD brain comes up with next.