Our Executive Board
Meet the 2024-2025 SAIGE Executive Board! We are from all areas of the country; however, we are connected and united in purpose: Serving SAIGE and its members.
Stacy Pinto
President
She/They
Dr. Stacy Pinto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and the immediate past-director of the School Counseling program at the University of Denver. She completed her graduate degrees at Montclair State University, is a certified school counselor, on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, and has provided counseling and educational services across community agency and P-20 contexts. Her scholarly interests include intersectionality and sexual identity labeling and language and her involvement with SAIGE has included strategic planning, conference committees, and standards and statements..
Rob McKinney
Past-President
He/Him/His
Dr. Rob McKinney, LMHCA, NCC is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counselor Education at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Rob earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Kent State University and his Master's from Eastern Illinois University. He is proud to be a member of ACA, ACES, SAIGE, and the Washington Chapter of SAIGE. Rob also serves as the Chapter Faculty Advisor for Gonzaga’s chapter of Chi Sigma Iota (Gamma Chi Epsilon). His professional and research interests include LGBTGEQIAP+ considerations in counseling, multicultural counseling, and various advocacy-related issues.
Margarita Martinez
President-Elect
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Margarita Martinez was born in Colombia and calls the DC DMV area home, specifically PG County Maryland. Margarita is the proud co-owner of Multicultural Career Center, LLC a Virginia-based therapy and career services private practice. Margarita has committed their career to servant leadership, JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) and being unapologetically authentic. Margarita is a proud spouse to a fellow Counselor and proud parent of two black cats named Spooky and Midnight. Margarita is an avid crafter who enjoys knitting, crocheting, diamond painting but most importantly collecting craft supplies to last several lifetimes.
Marion Toscano
Treasurer
She/Her/Hers
Marion E. Toscano, PhD, LPC (WI), LCPC (MD), NCC is an Assistant Professor at Mount Mary University. She is a committed educator, researcher, and counselor. Her areas of research include the areas of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Identity, LGBTQ+, Historical Traumas, Spirituality, Sub-cultures, Teams, and Teamwork. Her recent work includes creating and validating a measure of self-acceptance. She identifies as a lesbian and is now happily married to her long-time partner.
Joe Charette
Secretary
He/Him/His
Joe Charette, PhD, LPC, NCC is the Vice President of Programs and Operations at Bethany Children's home, a specialized support organization for youth who are survivors of human trafficking. He maintains a private practice working with QTGE clients, sex workers, poly and CNM relationships, and survivors of trauma. He proudly serves as an ACES committee chair and on the boards of NARACES, the Pennsylvania Counseling Association, his state branch of SAIGE. Dr. Joe’s research focuses on the lived experiences of QTGE people, specifically self-concealment, self-disclosure, uncertainty, and emotional labor among QTGE counselors, supervisors, and counselor educators. He also teaches in several counseling programs and serves as the advisor to the Chi Sigma Beta chapter of CSI at La Salle University.
Mike Chaney
Governing Council Representative
Coming soon
Marlon Johnson
Board Trustee
State Branches
He/Him/His
Dr. Marlon Johnson, PhD, LPC (TX), LPC-MHSP (TN), NCC serves as Dean of Community Life and Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. He prepares individuals to become culturally-inclusive and spiritually-integrated mental health professionals. He also owns a private practice in which his clinical work centers Black mental wellness, queer and trans-inclusive mental healthcare, and community racial healing activities. As a researcher and advocate, he integrates an intersectional framework to help communities explore Black and Queer identity development, gay male relationship longevity, strategies for racial healing, and mental health access and equity.
Mariangelly Sierra
Board Trustee
Multicultural & Social Justice Concerns
She/They/Ella
Dra. Mariangelly Sierra, LCMHCA, NCC, is a Contributing Faculty member of Walden University’s School of Counseling, a National Certified Counselor, and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in private practice. er current clinical focus is on supporting the Latinx and LGBTQIA+ communities. In the past, she has worked with non-US citizens on the Texas-Mexico border and refugee families survivors of trauma from countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Mariangelly’s research interests include multicultural competence in counseling and counselor education and supervision.
Jordan B. Wescott
Board Trustee
Research & Scholarship
She/Her/Hers
Dr. Jordan B. Westcott, NCC is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research, teaching, and service focuses on structural factors that impact mental health among minoritized populations and the role of counselors in advancing mental health equity for these groups. Her expertise is primarily in older adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and communities, and intersections therein. Her research informs her advocacy to ensure that all people have access to effective, culturally responsive mental health services. She has been involved with SAIGE since she served as an Emerging Leader as a master's student, and she most recently served as the Education Committee Co-Chair. She is also actively involved in professional service with the American Counseling Association and Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. She spends her free time with her partner and cats.
Sandra Gavin
Trustee of Membership & State Branches
She/Her/Hers
Dr. Sandra Gavin, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Adams State University, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a National Certified Counselor. Her research interests focus on increasing counseling self-efficacy and competency of counselors-in-training to work with LGBTQIA+ people. Sandra continues to work in private practice, primarily with LGBTQIA+ clients. She currently serves on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling. Sandra identifies as bisexual and lives in Alamosa, CO.
Jeffry Moe
Editor-In-Chief
Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling
He/Him/His
Jeff Moe, PhD, LPC, is an associate professor of counseling at Old Dominion University. He earned his doctorate in counselor education and supervision from the University of Toledo, and has worked as clinical mental health counselor in a variety of settings with a specialization in serving LGBTGEQIAP+ clients. His research on LGBTGEQIAP+ issues in counseling has appeared in national journals including the Journal of Counseling & Development, Journal of Homosexuality, Journal of Counseling Psychology, Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, Professional School Counseling, and the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling. He currently serves as the editor of the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, and has served as Secretary of ACES, President of the Virginia Association of LGBT Issues in Counseling, and Treasurer of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling
Amanda Brace
Chair of
Rainbow Run Committee
She/Her/Hers
Amanda Brace, Ed.S, LSC, PCC-S, has received specialized training in helping children and adolescents with learning disabilities, adjustment issues, and issues surrounding bullying (including cyberbullying). Amanda enjoys working with children, adults, families, and couples using a creative, holistic, and systemic approach to counseling enabling clients to explore the issues that have interrupted their lives. She also specializes in EMDR, as well as working with children who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Amanda is one of the authors of the ALGBTIC Competencies for Counseling with LGBQQIA Individuals.
Kelsey Ward
Chair of Technology & Resource Committee
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Dr. Kelsey Ward, PhD, LPCC-S (OH), NCC, CCMHC currently serves as Clinical Faculty at Adams State University, and also works clinically in Central Ohio, working with adolescents and adults who identify as LGBTGEQIAP+. Dr. Scanlan has clinical and research interests in gender-affirming care, neurodiversity, and clinical supervision. They have presented on LGBTGEQIAP+ issues in counseling at local, state, regional, and national conferences. They are also involved in their state's SAIGE chapter in the technology and regional representative roles.
Ana Reyes
Chair of Education Committee
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Ana Guadalupe Reyes, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CHST is a Core Faculty member at Antioch University. Dr. Reyes has a bachelor's degree in Forensic Psychology with a concentration in addictions counseling from Tiffin University, a master's in Counseling from Marymount University, and a Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of North Texas. They are a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas, and Certified Humanistic Sandtray Therapist. Dr. Reyes is also a Usui Reiki Master/Teacher who practices various forms of energy healing. With over 13 years of experience working with marginalized and underserved communities including communities of color, immigrants, refugees, survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer clients in multiple settings, Dr. Reyes integrates somatic, liberatory, and holistic approaches into their work as a scholar, educator, advocate, and counselor. In these roles, they practice anti-oppressive and emancipatory approaches to counseling and research. Inspired by these approaches, Dr. Reyes engages in ongoing reflexivity, dialogue, and action with other researchers and clinicians to promote liberatory research approaches in counseling. They have extensive training in various qualitative research methods, including but not limited to phenomenology, photovoice, and heuristic inquiry.
Gene Dockery
Chair of Public Policy Committee
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Gene Dockery, PhD, LPC, NCC, CCMHC is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Counseling at Seattle University. They are a recognized expert in LGBTQ legislative and policy advocacy in counseling and they have done this work at both national and state levels. Gene’s clinical specialties are queer neurodivergence and gender affirming care. Their research is focused on trans and queer liberation, advocacy, and disability justice.
Brandon Lee Marrero
Student Trustee
He/Him/His
Brandon Marrero identifies as a queer cisman and is from NYC. He is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University, driven by a passion for well-being, diversity, and advocacy. Brandon has a keen interest in sex therapy, couples counseling, and affirming care. He is particularly interested in Internal Family Systems and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy modalities. He aims to pursue a PhD in counseling education, focusing on the importance of sex education in graduate counseling programs. In his free time, he enjoys theater and has seen around 60 productions. Additionally, he has studied wine tasting and enology for the past two years.
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Kate Johnson
Co-Chair of Emerging Leaders Committee
She/Her/Hers
Kate Johnson, Ph.D., LPC-S (MS), LPC (AL), NCC is an Assistant Professor and CACREP-Liaison at Delta State University, where she teaches multicultural counseling, human sexuality, research, and child/adolescent classes. She received her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Johnson also owns her own private clinical practice with a background in individual and family counseling and over 14 years of experience at varied levels of care. Dr. Johnson is an advocate and ally for the LGBTQIA+ communities in her clinical practice, classroom, and through her service. She teaches cultural competence and best practices in her classes and professional presentations.
Sheldon Aaron
Co-Chair of Emerging Leaders Committee
He/Him/His
Sheldon Aaron, M.S., LCPC (IL), NCC is Core Faculty in the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health at William James College in Newton, MA. Sheldon received his master’s in Counseling from Eastern Illinois University and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. He is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois. Sheldon also utilizes Level 1 training in Gottman Couples Counseling when working with couples. Sheldon’s research interests include counseling instructor and student development, advancement of cultural humility and sensitivity when working with students and clients of color and who identify as LGBTGEQIAP+ and the advancement of professional standards of care with these populations. With over nine years of experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community in multiple settings, Sheldon integrates relational cultural, and psychodynamic approaches in his work as an educator, advocate, and counselor.
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Pei-Yu (Peggy) Lee
Masters Emerging Leader, 2024-2025
She/Her/Hers
Pei-Yu Lee (Peggy) is a first-year graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Seattle University. She has actively participated in social service projects and pursued any educational and extracurricular learning opportunities that related to the counseling profession. While in Taiwan, Peggy specialized in tutoring children with ADHD and ASD. Peggy also volunteered in different countries, immersing herself in various cultures. To broaden her research scope, Peggy is currently focusing on relationships within the LGBTQIAP+ community, including couples and family orientations. This interest has led Peggy to join a research team that specializes in exploring minor stress and resilience among the LGBTQIAP+ population. Peggy also contributes several proposals to upcoming counseling conferences. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Peggy will continue her research and learning process at Seattle University and also explore opportunities in other related counseling professions.
Michelle Augsut
Doctoral Emerging Leader, 2024-2025
She/Her/Hers
Michelle August, MA, LPC (OH), NCC, is a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of Cincinnati. Her work focuses on addressing systemic barriers to affirming and celebratory mental heath care for LGBTGEQIAP+ individuals, particularly within religious college and university settings. She has been connected to SAIGE since starting her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Gonzaga University, serving as the Graduate Student Representative for the Washington state chapter (WA-SAIGE). She is excited for this opportunity to serve as an Emerging Leader to collaborate in creating a more affirming and empowering environment for LGBTGEQIAP+ individuals within the counseling profession and beyond.
Nicholas Juzdan
New Professional Emerging Leader, 2024-2025
He/Him/His
Nicholas Juzdan
Storytelling, advocacy, and mental health have always played significant roles in Nicholas Juzdan’s life as he grew up. Juzdan's Syrian father and Palestinian mother shared stories of their history, placing culture at the center of their household. Nick's passion for others has been instrumental in his past marketing and media work, and he aims to further his impact in mental health by collaborating with a diverse group of clients navigating their intersectional identities. He recently graduated from Montclair State University with a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During Nick's internship, he led several LGBTQIA+ groups and developed psychoeducational topics, which helped expand his library of curriculum. His dedication to mental health and social change motivates him to develop new projects aimed at impacting the communities he serves.
Organizational Bylaws
Our Board follows the Bylaws of SAIGE.