Katie G.
President
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.
Katie R.
Vice President
She/Her
Katie was born and raised in Evansville, IN. She has a Master's degree in Social Work from USI, and currently practices as a Behavior Clinician for individuals living with disabilities at The Arc of Evansville. In the past, she has worked as a case manager serving individuals with severe mental illness at Southwestern. She is also an active member of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Evansville. She lives on the east side with her wife, Lauren. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going on adventures, cooking/grilling, and cuddling with her cat, Ty, and dog, Crosby. Katie is a politics/news junkie and is passionate about social justice issues and making the world better for future generations.
Katie is very excited to be involved in Greater Evansville Youth, providing support and safety to area teenagers, no matter where they find themselves on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. She believes strongly in the mission of G.E.Y. and is proud to be associated with an organization that is devoted to empowering youth and building a reputation rooted in integrity and transparency. As someone who did not entirely understand and come to terms with her sexuality until her twenties, Katie believes in the power of representation and the importance of providing youth with safe places and supportive adults to meet them where they are and facilitate growth and discovery.
"I believe that there is a power, even as an adult, in seeing parts of myself in other people that are leading healthy, happy lives. Being on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum can feel isolating, especially in smaller, conservative leaning communities. It is critical for queer youth to know other people, peers and adults, LGBTQIA+ and allies, in their community, that are understanding and supportive of who they are and who they are becoming. I'm so excited to work with this fantastic group of leaders, with their diverse life experiences and skills, to empower Evansville area youth to discover and grow into the best, most authentic versions of themselves"
Jerusha V.
Founder
(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.”
Samantha B.
Community Outreach
She/Her
Samantha is a brain injury specialist and native New Englander determined to find or create safe spaces for Evansville's LGBTQIA+ youth. A UE graduate, she is passionate about knitting, cats, Parks & Recreation, and planning community events, especially the Haynie's Corner First Friday Series and Front Porch Fest. Samantha has been a vocal LGBTQIA+ ally since accidentally being at the Massachusetts Statehouse the day same-sex marriage legalized in MA and has since served on as many committees, boards, phone banks, task forces, and protests as possible. Samantha and her husband Jeremy are proud parents of four misfit indoor cats as well as a small feral colony.
Amanda M.
Program Director
She/Her
Amanda lives in Evansville and graduated with a Master's in Social Work from the University of Southern Indiana. She is married and has three cats at home. For the past almost decade, Amanda has worked with children in Evansville in some capacity. She started this work by helping inner-city youth, running and creating a vast number/type of groups and programs.
She loves books, road tripping, the mountains, ocean, comics, camping, music, and all types of different adventures!
"I have felt both love and hate for being me. I want all kids to experience kindness and love and grow in an environment that they are cared for in and celebrated for their uniqueness! If I can be a support for someone and help them see their potential, then I'm all in!"
Amanda Y.
Treasurer
She/Her
Bio coming soon!
Ashley W.
Secretary
She/Her
Ashley 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. Ashley 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!"
Amanda F.
Design Director
(She/Her)
Amanda graduated from the University of Southern Indiana in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. She is part of the design team at Gray Loon Marketing Group, helping local, national, and global clients with their websites, social media presence, and printed collateral. She lives on the west side (best side) of Evansville with her husband, Jordan, and their three children, Nora, Atta, and Wyatt. Amanda is also a nationally certified, independent Child Passenger Safety Technician, and educates local parents and caregivers on carseat best practices and safety.
In her free time she enjoys an occasional homebrewing weekend, eating pasta, watching movies with a pint of gelato, hosting themed dinner parties, and helping her littles explore their newfound interests.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of an organization that puts so much effort into the safety and care of our local LGBTQIA+ youth. It’s an absolute treat to work alongside so many wonderful people, creating a safe place for these kids to spend even just one day out of their week.”
Phill S.
Health & Safety Advisor
(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."