Meet the Staff
Kay Wong (they/them) is a queer, mixed race, passionate, and genuine individual born
and raised in Southern California. They attended Colorado State University for their
Bachelors in Communication Studies and the University of Connecticut for their Masters
in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Using an anti-racist, queer, intersectional
feminist lens, they have a variety of professional experiences, including serving
as the San Diego State University Pride Center Coordinator and Assistant Director
prior to their current role. Outside of work, Kay can be seen laughing outdoors, engaging
in joyful movement such as hiking, yoga, rollerblading, and dancing. Kay also competitively
runs and paddles on a dragon boat team. To slow down, Kay enjoys cooking, reading,
writing, playing bananagrams, caring for their plants, and talking about pink iguanas.
Jess received her Masters in Higher Education focused in Critical Educational Change
and Leadership from the University of Washington and her Bachelor's in Child and Youth
Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University. She started as a student employee at Florida
Gulf Coast University, where she cultivated her passion for working through an anti-racist
and queer lens. Jess continued working with students at Central Michigan University,
the University of Washington Bothell, and Cascadia College. Throughout her roles at
universities and various non-profit organizations, she has been a passionate advocate
for inclusivity and social change.
Amanda Beardsley, Ph.D.
Cayleff & Sakai Faculty Scholar
Pronouns: she/her/hers
[email protected]
Dr. Beardsley received her Ph.D. in Art History from Binghamton University in 2019
and is a lecturer in Women’s Studies at San Diego State University. Her interdisciplinary
research, alongside her passion for teaching and mentorship, has led her to develop
courses on gender, science, and religion; the art of medicine; feminist media theory
and activism; sound studies; and art history. She has published articles in Technology and Culture and Nineteenth Century Studies that address the gendered implications of architectural acoustics and visual media
within American religion, and is in the process of co-editing a forthcoming anthology
on Latter-Day Saint art with Oxford University Press. Amanda is a fan of cats, sci-fi,
and the beach.
Allison Newlee, M.S., PPS
Assistant Coordinator
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
[email protected]
Allison appreciates meaningful time spent with chosen family, including their two
cats Marceline and Peridot. They also enjoy hiking, any kind of body of water, playing
games, rollerblading, traveling, exploring new places, cooking and eating food, and
watching TV shows. Allison graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2017 with a
B.S. in Psychology and minors in Child Development, Women’s & Gender Studies, and
Ethnic Studies, and from SDSU in 2022 with an M.S. in Counseling and an emphasis in
School Counseling. They have a number of passions, including advocating for the rights
of K-12 students, making the high school to college transition more accessible, breaking
down the sex binary, educating about comprehensive sexual health education, and drawing
attention to the long history of queerness prior to colonization.
Meet the Student Staff Members
Ilse
Pride Center Educator
Pronouns: they/she/he
Ilse is a third-year English major and LGBTQ Studies minor. This is their 2nd year
working at the Pride Center as a Pride Center Educator and is looking forward to continue
building intersectional spaces for QTPOC students on campus. Ilse lives between the
US and Mexico alongside her traveling cat. In her free time, he enjoys exploring San
Diego and Tijuana, going to the cat café, and watching and reading queer cartoons,
books, and webcomics.
Ian
Pride Center Educator - Special Projects
Pronouns: he/him/his
Ian is a third-year student studying International Business with a focus on Spanish
and Western Europe. Driven to be an advocate for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Ian works
at The Pride Center and aspires to create systemic change and support individuals
who hold intersecting identities. Ian is also President of Mock Trial at SDSU and
plans on attending law school to support and provide legal services to marginalized
and underrepresented communities. During his free time, Ian loves to play and watch
soccer!
Isabella
Pride Center Educator
Pronouns: they/she
Isabella is a third year psychology major passionate about mental health awareness;
aspiring to heal generational traumas and break stigmas surrounding the 2SLBGTQIA+
community in the Latine community. They are a queer first generation Latine student
who wants to advocate for an inclusive and safe environment for all members and allies
of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In her free time, they love listening to music and all
activities related like singing and dancing. Isabella is always eager to learn new
things, and meet new places and people!
Sophie
Pride Center Educator - Marketing
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Sophie is a third-year Social Sciences major with an emphasis in Anthropology and
an Honors minor in Interdisciplinary Studies. This will be Sophie’s second year working
at The Pride Center after spending her first year as a Pride Center Mentor! Sophie
is passionate about queer BIPOC empowerment and advocating for the right to body autonomy.
When outside of work and school, she loves the beach, going to estate sales to collect
vintage toys, and watching bad reality TV with her cat Markiplier and dog BMO.
Sammi
Graduate Student - Pride House Lead
Pronouns: they/he
Sammi (they/he) is an autistic queer trans person who was born and raised in San Diego.
They attended Point Loma Nazarene University and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor's
degree, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy. Currently, he is pursuing
a Master's degree in Rhetoric and Writing Studies at SDSU. Sammi is passionate about
critically analyzing the ways in which certain rhetorics have helped maintain power
structures that aim to dominate and suppress the rights of not only people within
the LGBTQIA+ community, but also anyone else who finds themselves at the intersections
of intentionally marginalized identities, such as, but not limited to, BIPOC, disabled
individuals, and lower-class communities. His main focus now is writing specifically
about the rhetoric of the Evangelical church and its impact on sexuality and gender
exploration and formation, especially regarding religious trauma. When not writing
about these issues, Sammi loves making and producing music, particularly playing the
drums, enjoys drinking chai tea lattes, whether hot or iced depending on the weather,
takes photos of people in various settings like trips or the skatepark, and happily
shares many pictures and videos of their cat named Jerry.
Casey
Pride House Mentor
they/them/theirs (he is also fine)
Casey is a fourth-year Psychology major with a minor in LGBTQ+ studies. As a queer,
transmasculine, acespec, disabled person of color, they are especially passionate
about advocating for people with intersecting marginalized identities. They plan to
continue their engagement with the queer community and seek a Master’s degree in Social
Work to become a mental health therapist specializing in working with queer folks.
They enjoy reading, cooking, and learning about space and the solar system; their
current favorite planet is Saturn but their favorite moon is Io!
Lexi
Pride House Mentor
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lexi is a second-year Women’s Studies major who is also planning to minor in Spanish.
This will be her first year working as a Pride House Mentor. Working at The Pride
Center, she aims to create safe spaces where everyone in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,
especially Trans and BIPOC individuals, can authentically express themselves in a
judgment free environment. Outside of work, she loves listening to music, collecting
vinyls, going to concerts, skiing, going to the gym, and spending time with friends
and family (including fur babies <3).
Al
Pride House Mentor
Pronouns: she/they/him
Al is a third-year Television, Film and New Media major with a minor in Digital and
Social Media Studies. This will be Al’s second year working as a Pride Center Mentor.
Al is passionate about helping expand queer BIPOC representation in media. Outside
of school and work, she loves to play sports, write scripts, listen to music and watch
movies.
Grayson
Pride House Mentor
Pronouns: he/him/his
Grayson (he/him) is a gay, transgender male who is a second-year junior studying Speech,
Language, and Hearing Sciences with Psychology: Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
and Sociology minors. He is originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is proudly
Deaf/HoH. He is a huge dog person, owning two named Tank and Lucy, and also owns a
guinea pig named Reese. He is also a major Swiftie and attended the 8/3 LA show. He
is excited to get to know his mentees!
Ila
Pride House Mentor
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Ila is a second-year Liberal Studies major with an emphasis in Elementary Education.
It is her first year working with The Pride Center and she is joining as a mentor!
She aspires to be a comfort to her mentees and provide support through navigating
self-identity during their time in college. In her free time Ila loves to make necklaces/bracelets,
watch corny reality TV, spend time with her chubby cats, and listen to Taylor Swift
and Phoebe Bridgers! :)
Wren
Pride House Mentor
Pronouns: they/he
Wren is a second-year Television, Film, and New Media: Production major and LGBTQ
Studies minor. This will be his first year working with The Pride Center as a Mentor.
Wren is very passionate about advocating for the LGBTQ community and particularly
trans rights. In their free time, Wren enjoys playing guitar, drawing, crocheting,
and listening to an excessive amount of Taylor Swift and Stray Kids.
