艾可直播

Arthur Makar, 鈥�72 (He/Him/His)

Retired Nonprofit Executive and Volunteer

I grew up in Salem, MA and attended BC when it was still primarily a commuter school, majoring in English and Theatre. While a student, I active in the School of Education Senate and President of Kappa Phi Kappa, a professional educators fraternity. In 1972, I was first recipient of the John Schmitt Award and in 2002, was named one of the Fifty Faces of the Lynch School of Education in conjunction with its fiftieth anniversary.

My career was spent in the nonprofit sector, retiring last year as Executive Director of Fight for Sight, which has funded promising eye and vision researchers for seventy-five years. I have lived in NYC with my partner, Jon, for a quarter-century.

In 2022 I will become a Golden Eagle. Prior to moving to NYC, I was involved in orchestrating LGBTQ+ alumni events on the BC campus. I am interested in renewing this relationship, especially as it relates to outreach among alumni from earlier classes.

Emma Rooney 鈥�22听(She/Her/Hers)

I'm originally from East Windsor, NJ. I graduated from 艾可直播 College in 2022 with a degree in Communication. I am currently attending graduate school at the Lynch School of Education studying Higher Education with a concentration in Student Affairs. During my time at BC, I was a member of the 艾可直播 College Dynamics, participated in BC Theatre, was a student DJ at WZBC, and was an orientation leader.

I was never a part of LGBTQ+ leadership at BC and wanted a chance to forge connections with the larger LGBTQ+ BC community, as well as help generate inclusivity and positivity in the undergrad and graduate experiences of queer eagles. :)

David DeRosa 鈥�95

Originally, from Peabody, MA, I live in Washington DC. Currently, I serve as the civilian Chief Operating Officer for the Judge Advocate General of the United States Navy. In this capacity, I oversee the management and integration of resources and personnel for the Navy鈥檚 legal enterprise.

At BC, as a history major, I graduated as a Scholar of the College with thesis work on the Bauhaus. I was involved with the Residential Life program and served as a Resident Assistant and Staff Assistant. In addition to my Bachelor of Arts in History from 艾可直播 College (1994), I received a Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma (2004), and a Master of National Security Studies from the Naval War College (2000) in Rhode Island.

艾可直播 College has been an integral part of my life since 1994. The educational and social opportunities brought to me by BC shaped my life both personally and professionally. Working with the Executive Committee of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Council, I hope to continue on the BC journey by helping to build our community both nationally and in the Mid-Atlantic region.

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Joseph Fay '77

Joe is the Founder and President of A Home Among Friends, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in New Orleans with a mission to renovate existing New Orleans homes into multi-unit dwellings for low-income LGBTQ seniors and their allies and friends.

Joe spent thirty years in management and leadership in the nonprofit sector including the American Red Cross, American Lung Association, Reading Is Fundamental, Children鈥檚 Brain Tumor Foundation, and ThinkCure!, working in New York City, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles before moving to New Orleans upon retirement. His husband, Dan Garness, grew up here and has family still in the area.

Leadership Program and was elected to the Order of the Cross & Crown as well as Columbia University鈥檚 Graduate School of Business, where he was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma. He served as a Navy Officer between college and grad school and worked in for profit marketing at Procter & Gamble and Heinz USA.

Joe describes his mission as 鈥渂uilding safety nets for a living鈥�.

Rick Klein 鈥�02

Rick Klein came to 艾可直播 College from the Chicago area. He was on the fencing team and the executive board for BC Hillel, the Jewish student group. After school, he returned to Chicago to be a middle school teacher and later earned a school psychology degree from Loyola University Chicago. In 2023 Rick and his husband moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he is a school psychologist in private practice and does contract work. While no longer a fencer, he has been a competitive rower for over 15 years and is on the board of the Hollywood Rowing Club in Florida. He gets to return to 艾可直播 and race at the Head of the Charles Regatta regularly and catches BC football games with his old fencing teammates and their families. Advocating for children with differing educational needs is Rick's passion and his way of being a person in the service of others, and members of the BC community can reach out to chat about the education field at any time.

Robert Lafferty '97, LAW'00

I live in Westchester (NY) with my husband and our kids who are in middle and elementary school. I am a labor and employment lawyer and serve as Chief Operating Officer of the New York Hotel Trades Council and Hotel Association of New York City Employee Benefit Funds. I was a member of the Shaw Leadership Program and was active in advocating for greater diversity in the BC community during undergrad and law school. I am very proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Council Executive Committee.

Joan Jungbin Lee MCAS 鈥�18

As the neurodivergent eldest child of Korean immigrants, Joan learned early on about the importance of adaptive equitable educational support. She graduated from 艾可直播 College studying History & Philosophy as a first-generation student. She was highly involved in PULSE Council.

As a NYer living in the South, Joan still doesn鈥檛 know how to drive but has learned to smile at neighbors. They currently live in New Orleans with their partner, two cats (Moomin & Bub), two dogs (Rolo & Pluto), and a rotating cast of foster animal(s).

Danielle Murray '99, LGSOE'03

Danielle Murray has been working to make school communities safer and more welcoming for all students for over twenty years, beginning with her work as an undergraduate and graduate student at 艾可直播 College and continuing through her over 20 years as a high school teacher and administrator. Danielle has developed leadership opportunities for LGBTQ youth and their allies so they could use their stories to affect changes in their schools. She has been a chapter leader for GLSEN Massachusetts and served on their National Advisory Council, and she was selected as a representative on the MA Legislative Committee for LGBTQ Youth.

In 2016 Danielle became one of the first Safe and Welcoming Schools Specialists in 艾可直播 Public Schools, providing both direct support for LGBTQ+ youth as well as professional development for schools on creating safe and inclusive school communities for LGBTQ+ youth. Danielle has worked in teacher education programs for 艾可直播 College and other area colleges.

Danielle currently works as an Assistant Head of School and Equity Officer at 艾可直播 Latin School and serves as a national facilitator for the Welcoming Schools program through the Human Rights Campaign. She is also the mom to an amazing sixteen-year-old son. She is very excited to connect back with her fellow rainbow 艾可直播!

Austin "Chisholm" Naughton '95, LGSOE'99

艾可直播 College was a wonderful place to be a student during the 1990s - academically, socially, and otherwise! That period was a relatively uncertain time for people who did not identify as heterosexual. Happily, allies were making efforts to show support that helped make the ongoing journey of "coming out" a bit smoother. I appreciate that BC has been making progress on such matters. That is why I am very pleased about working with BC's LGBTQ Alumni Council to help build upon the efforts of so many others!

BC provided excellent opportunities to develop skills that could be applied to post-university lives in numerous ways. I loved being involved in activities both on and off-campus - from serving as a Resident Assistant to leading campus tours to participating in student government to volunteering in area schools. My undergraduate and graduate studies connected directly to my career as an educator and organizer in Massachusetts California, and Washington, DC.

While a graduate student at BC, I met my now-spouse, who was in a doctoral program at 艾可直播 University. Back in 1998, it was hard to imagine that we would have the legal right to get married in the USA by 2015. We have borne witness to the political roller-coaster related to our civil rights as a same-gender couple that happens to be bi-national. Such a perspective motivates me to be engaged in efforts to support the rights of others through democratic processes.

From MA to NY to CA to DC to Spain, we know what it is like to build community in places with relatively diverse, dynamic populations. These experiences inspire me to collaborate with 艾可直播 College community members, especially those in the Greater Washington, DC region! I enjoy traveling with family and keeping connected with the pleasant people that I have met through BC. I look forward to helping forge connections through the LGBTQ Alumni Council and beyond!

Annelise Hagar Preciado, MCAS'14, MCGS'15

Annelise Mirella Hagar Preciado is a Double Eagle BC alum (B.A. Sociology and Hispanic Studies, 鈥�14, M.A. Sociology, 鈥�15). While at BC, she was involved in Allies, the Montserrat Coalition, Organization of Latin American Affairs, Vagina Monologues, AHANA Caucus, University Chorale, and McNair Scholars Program. Coming from the Latinx and queer communities, Annelise firmly believes in the power of people, diversity & inclusion鈥攁 mentality that makes her consistently seek out opportunities to amplify the voices of those in marginalized communities. She is excited to be joining BC鈥檚 LGBTQ+ Alumni Council so that she may strengthen the connection between LGBTQ+ BC alumni and increase support to queer BC students as they navigate college and prepare to enter the post-grad world. Annelise grew up in the Los Angeles area and now resides in San Francisco with her cat Chloe.

Lydia Rigby, CSOM 鈥�08, CGSOM 鈥�23

As a proud double Eagle, I am a Latina transgender gay woman deeply rooted in my love for both the 艾可直播 College community and the broader LGBTQ+ community. My passion for fostering inclusivity and equality has led me to meaningful roles, including co-leading the Lesbian and Bi Women's Discussion Group at the Cambridge Women's Center, where I championed a supportive and inclusive environment. I have actively sought to transform professional spaces into LGBTQ+ friendly environments, spearheading initiatives like incorporating gender pronouns in emails and the introduction of gender-neutral restrooms in the workplace in my previous roles.

My commitment to these causes stems from a deep-seated love for the queer community and an unwavering loyalty to 艾可直播 College, my alma mater. Serving on the 艾可直播 College LGBTQ+ Alumni Council is not only a privilege but also an extension of my commitment to improve the lives and experiences of the queer community. I look forward to using this platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, foster dialogue, and work towards a more inclusive and supportive BC community.

Christopher Rizzo, MCAS 鈥�22

I was born and raised in Brookfield, Wisconsin and moved to 艾可直播 to attend 艾可直播 College in the fall of 2018. I graduated with a BA in Art History in 2022. I now live in Brookline and work at TDC, a nonprofit consulting firm based in 艾可直播. During my time at BC I played the oboe in the University Wind Ensemble, worked as a student ambassador at the McMullen Museum, and was involved in the LGBTQ+ community at BC as a Spectrum retreat lead, GLBTQ+ Leadership Council (GLC) E-Board member, and eventually as chair of GLC.

My time at BC, and particularly my involvement in the Queer community, changed me for the better. I want to support BC students, other alumni, 艾可直播and staff as they work to make 艾可直播 college more welcoming, diverse, and open. I am grateful for my BC experience, and I hope to create community with all who share an identity as Queer eagles to express my gratitude.

Catherine 鈥淐at鈥� Tepoz, CGSOM 鈥�22

Cat was born and raised in Queens, New York to Mexican immigrant parents and has been living in the 艾可直播 area since 2011. As a first-generation college student, Cat graduated with her MBA from 艾可直播 College through the part-time MBA program. During her time at 艾可直播 College, she served as an ambassador for the part-time MBA program and was a member of Stand Out at Carroll (STOC).听听

Cat is passionate about building a community of LGBT+ alumni and looks forward to creating a safe space for promoting support and networking.

Christopher 鈥淐hris鈥� Waltrous, MCAS 鈥�08 LGSOE 鈥�10 (He/They)

艾可直播 College was a wonderful place to be a student during the 1990s - academically, socially, and otherwise! That period was a relatively uncertain time for people who did not identify as heterosexual. Happily, allies were making efforts to show support that helped make the ongoing journey of "coming out" a bit smoother. I appreciate that BC has been making progress on such matters. That is why I am very pleased about working with BC's LGBTQ Alumni Council to help build upon the efforts of so many others!

BC provided excellent opportunities to develop skills that could be applied to post-university lives in numerous ways. I loved being involved in activities both on and off-campus - from serving as a Resident Assistant to leading campus tours to participating in student government to volunteering in area schools. My undergraduate and graduate studies connected directly to my career as an educator and organizer in Massachusetts California, and Washington, DC.

While a graduate student at BC, I met my now-spouse, who was in a doctoral program at 艾可直播 University. Back in 1998, it was hard to imagine that we would have the legal right to get married in the USA by 2015. We have borne witness to the political roller-coaster related to our civil rights as a same-gender couple that happens to be bi-national. Such a perspective motivates me to be engaged in efforts to support the rights of others through democratic processes.

From MA to NY to CA to DC to Spain, we know what it is like to build community in places with relatively diverse, dynamic populations. These experiences inspire me to collaborate with 艾可直播 College community members, especially those in the Greater Washington, DC region! I enjoy traveling with family and keeping connected with the pleasant people that I have met through BC. I look forward to helping forge connections through the LGBTQ Alumni Council and beyond!

Martin Casiano 鈥�15听(He/Him/His)

Brand Activation Manager, Sephora

Martin is a 艾可直播 native and first generation college student who graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a major in Communication. During his time at 艾可直播 College he was an admissions tour guide, Resident Assistant, and served in various roles in the UGBC GLBTQ+ Leadership Council (GLC) ultimately serving as the UGBC Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion during his senior year. Martin has worked in the advertising and marketing industry since graduating from 艾可直播 College, volunteers with a non-profit called Bottom Line, and a founding member of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Council.听听

I loved the community of LGBTQ+ friends I built as an undergrad at 艾可直播 College and wanted to continue to build that LGBTQ+ community of 艾可直播 post-graduation.

Laura DelloStritto 鈥�13听(Any Pronouns)

Project Manager, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

I am originally from Worcester, MA and through my experience working with the GLBTQ+ Leadership Council and the Women's Center while at BC, I became focused on advocating for groups with unmet needs, which led me to obtain a Masters in Public Health. My goal is to work to improve health outcomes for underserved populations; toward that goal, I have been involved in LGBTQ+ organizations since 2011 and currently serve on the board of the Bisexual Resource Center, where I help coordinate the annual #BiHealthMonth campaign each March. In my free time, I enjoy breaking out of escape rooms and planning donut shop tours.听

Being involved with the GLBTQ+ Leadership Council as an undergrad was one of the most formative experiences of my life as it allowed me to find queer community, build enough confidence in my identity to come out to my family and friends, and subsequently support my peers through tailored student-led programming. I became involved with the LGBTQ+ Alumni Council to help create space for similar community-building among our many LGBTQ+ BC alums, as well as to promote dialogue around LGBTQ+ issues and serve as a resource for the University, current students, and other alumni networks.