Fall 2026

LGBTQ+ leaders in higher education are navigating increasing complexity—and community matters more than ever. Here’s how you can connect, grow, and lead this month.

Board Election

The Annual Meeting of the LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education took place on October 14, 2026 in conjunction with the Leadership Institute in Atlantic City. Two new members were elected to serve three-year terms: Terry Brown (AASCU) and Chicora Martin (Agnes Scott College). Four incumbent members were re-elected: Lori Ciccomoscolo (William Paterson University), Kristin Esterberg (University of Washington, Bothell), Kenro Kusumi (Arizona State University), and Louisa Renaud (Macomb Community College). Learn more about the board elections here.

Board Officer Changes

George Kacenga took over as President of the Board from Joe Bertolino. President Joe will serve one year as Past-President.

Lori Ciccomoscolo was elected President-Elect and will serve in that position for one year. She will become President of the organization in October 2027

A Leadership Institute for the books!

The theme for this year’s Leadership Institute was “Authenticity in Action: Leading with Hope.” Around 120 individuals attended the Institute in Atlantic City. In surveys, participants said that they valued the networking and community that they experienced, particularly opportunities to connect with LGBTQ+ colleagues from other institutions. Concurrent sessions were received, and participants appreciating the range of topics, presenters, and practical discussions.

Special thanks go to our hosts, Stockton University, Atlantic City, and its President, Joe Bertolino, for creating a warm, welcoming experience.

In a Leadership Institute first, President Joe participated in a live taping of the podcast, The Q Suite, with host Ken Kundis. Click on the image below to go to the episode, where Joe talks about his leadership style, "rooted in authenticity, vulnerability, and the belief that self-knowledge is the foundation of every other kind of knowledge."

2026 Leadership Fellows

We were extremely proud and happy to host our 2026 Leadership Fellows in Atlantic City. They are (from left), Robert LeGary, Joe Hinton, Stina Soderstrom, RJ Holmes-Leopold, Paige Reed, Kristopher Oliveira, and Jayme Cante. Read more about our Leadership Fellows here.

Awards

Three awards were presented during the Annual Meeting, including the first annual Leadership Impact Award, the Founders Award, and the Emerging Leader award. To see the award criteria, see here.

Partner Spotlight

Ellucian has been partnering with LGBGQ Leaders in Higher Education for several years, and we were happy to be working with them again. Several Ellucian staff joined with leaders to present a panel on the ethical use of student identity data.

Special shout-out to Arianna Mears, Project Manager for Strategic Programs at Ellucian, where she leads cross-functional initiatives that shape the future of higher education technology. 

Get Involved

There are many ways for you to get involved in LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education. Join a committee, help us plan our programs and services. We’re taking volunteers to help with our 2027 programs, including the October Leadership Institute. Contact Jim Berg to volunteer (use email link below).

Also, we are seeking proposals for upcoming webinars and virtual programming focused on leadership development, professional growth, community building, and the issues shaping higher education. Whether you have expertise to share, an innovative idea to explore, or a conversation you'd like to facilitate, we'd love to hear from you! We welcome interactive workshops, panel discussions, presentations, and other engaging formats. Submit your proposal here.

Annual Giving

Thank to the nearly 60 people who gave to our annual campaign at the Institute. We raised over $15,000 toward our 2027 goal of $42,000.

There are many ways to give, particularly for those who are interested in required disbursements, gifts of appreciated stock, and planned giving.

Join or Renew Now

You don't have to lead alone. Our national network understands you and your work. We are the only national organization dedicated to developing LGBTQ+ leadership in higher education.

Here’s what members gain:

• Access to leadership development and learning opportunities

• A supportive national network of LGBTQ+ peers

• Invitations to members-only programs and events

And just as importantly—you become part of a community where you can show up fully, lead authentically, and grow alongside others on a similar path.

Don't forget to grab yourself some swag! Our online store is open.

You saw them at the Institute, now get yours!

• t-shirts
• hats
• magnets
• and more