Staff

Brennon Ham (Brennon/they/any) is originally from Maryland, just outside of DC and Baltimore. Brennon comes from a big and blended family on the east coast. They grew up swimming and playing baseball competitively for 10 years each and now coach swimming for Garfield High School and Lakeridge Swim Club here in Seattle. They currently live on First Hill with their four-legged babies, Frankie and Homer.

Brennon is a queer, bigender, mixed-Latinx, formerly homeless, survivor of violence. These identities and experiences shaped much of their professional and academic pursuits. Over the last 12 years, Brennon has held roles with A Way Home Washington; Seattle Public Schools; The Northwest Network of LGBTQ+ Survivors of Abuse; Lifelong AIDS Alliance; and Queer Youth Space. Brennon received a Masters in Education Policy & Management from Harvard University, completed their undergraduate studies at Case Western Reserve University, and finished a Diversity & Inclusion certificate program at Cornell University. At CWRU, Brennon was the LGBTQ Center’s first student staff person.   

Need to contact Brennon? Please reach out by email to brennonh@uw.edu for support.

Val Schweigert [pronouns: she/hers, they/them, siya] is a queer, “mixed” Filipinx American and scholar. They seek to center marginal and underrepresented identities through transformative praxis and best serve students by addressing their needs with intersectional approaches. Val currently finds themself on Duwamish lands by way of South Texas (Karankawa and Coahuiltecan territory). Val has lived on the East Coast, specifically the finger lakes of New York (Cayuga Nation, Haudenosaunee) and spent summers working on pre-college programs at the Penn campus in Philadelphia (Lenni-Lenape). They hold a B.A. in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology from Wells College and received their M.Ed. in Multicultural Education from the University of Washington in 2017. Val’s research interests include investigating students of color identity construction and development—specifically for mixed identified, transnational students of color— and how that impacts their cultivation of community, sense of ‘belonging’, and navigation of undergraduate experiences at PWIs. Val loves providing direct student services, collaborating on passion projects that enliven the Q’mmunity, and talking about people’s culinary or creative pursuits. They live with their partner and 2 pawpanions, Lumpia and Luna. Connect with me at qval@uw.edu or during my advising hours at https://calendly.com/qval.

Miami (she/her) Originally from Florida, I’ve spent the past three years living in the PNW, and I’m excited to have started a new chapter in this area and become part of a vibrant community.

Throughout my career, I’ve honed skills in areas such as conflict resolution, effective communication, motivation, diversity advocacy, and building strong, meaningful relationships by truly understanding and addressing the needs of those around me.

I have a deep love for music across all genres, with a particular fondness for R&B and classical. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, exploring nature, and traveling, as it gives me the opportunity to experience and appreciate new places. One of my favorite pastimes is losing myself in a good book.

I’m passionate about helping others, and I believe my energy and enthusiasm are contagious. I aim to encourage students to think critically, make informed decisions, and empower them to grow in ways that benefit themselves and their communities. With a strong understanding of the challenges people face in everyday life, I’m confident in my ability to help students find clarity and direction with passion and insight.

In my work, I’m committed to creating an environment of mutual respect, accountability, and justice. My goal is to make our time together meaningful and productive while setting both realistic and aspirational expectations. At the Q Center, I focus on collaborating closely with students to develop specific, measurable strategies that challenge them to think critically about their obstacles and turn those challenges into opportunities for personal and academic growth.

Joie Waxler (they/them/theirs) is originally from the unceded lands of the Lenape and Wappinger peoples known as New York, and relocated to the unceded lands of the Duwamish known as Seattle. They hold a Masters of Social Work and Masters of Public Health with a certification in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Washington. Joie is a femme non-binary Jewish queer. They are white, sometimes able-bodied with a side of chronic pain, educated through institutions of higher learning, and learn-ed through community care and generational wisdoms. With a background in sexual and reproductive health and justice that centers marginalized identities, Joie approaches the world and their work grounded in the idea that all bodies are inherently imbued with immutable worth, and are deserving of love, compassion, and value. Joie is delighted to be part of such a vibrant and multi-talented team working to queer our notions of the world.

From grassroots demonstrations in her hometown to social justice in her academic pursuits, Lexi (she/her) has been guided through her personal and professional life by a keen awareness of structural inequality and a dedication to mitigating its harms. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, concentrated in inequality and justice, from The Ohio State University in 2022, and she wasted no time putting it to work at her local library. There, supporting the hubs of community activism, preservers of history, and pillars of democracy that are our public libraries, she found the perfect focus for her passion.

At UW, she continues her journey as a Master of Library and Information Science student at the iSchool, and as a Graduate Program Coordinator with the Q Center. She has been instrumental in the reopening of the Q Center’s library with a fresh organizational system alongside her other programs: Menstruation Station, Colormode, and A-Spec Discussion Group. She is proud to be involved with UW’s vibrant queer community and is honored by the opportunity to be of service to something so close to her heart.

Grayson Connor (he/him) is a graduate student in his first year of the Museology Masters program. He completed his undergraduate degree at the UW in the Gender Women and Sexuality Studies program and Honors College. He previously served at the Q Center in Web and Computer Services. While working in the Q Center, Grayson created the EnGender program and has been leading the Gender Discussion Group in efforts to make the UW community a more welcoming place for trans/gender non-conforming folks.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, you can often find him on campus marveling at the existence of moss or how colorful the trees are. He is always happy to chat about animal shelters/welfare, theme parks, zoos/aquariums, board games, tabletop roleplaying games, video games, and media criticism/research.

Lalitha is a queer South Asian, which informs much of her outlook as a policy professional. Her former roles include professional abortion access and election organizer for #Fight4HER and Advocacy Manager at YWCA Columbus. In her last role, she fought for trans and queer rights in Ohio, working on preventing bad bills such as the anti-transgender youth healthcare bill, the bathroom bill, and the anti-transgender girls in sports bill. She is deeply passionate about defeating the patriarchy and approaching this work with an antiracist, restorative lens, with much gratitude given to the Black people, Indigenous people, and other people of color who have taught her. 

She is excited to serve as the Graduate Programs & Policy Education Coordinator, where she is looking forward to getting back into her roots in gender justice. In their spare time, they love to “read’ (buy books and feel guilty about not reading them all – but still buying them), as well as spend time with their husband in their very green-themed apartment in Seattle. 

Nhu (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student studying Informatics with a minor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. At the Q Center, she has the opportunity to bridge technology with community advocacy. She is dedicated to challenging harmful biases and legacies of exclusion in the tech field. Nhu’s journey in academia is deeply rooted in her identity as a queer Vietnamese woman.

She previously served as the Operation & Event Specialist at the Q Center, planning key community events such as the 2024 Dawg Daze, the QTBIPOC Winter Celebration, and Lavender Graduation. This year, Nhu continues to support the Menstruation Station and EnGender programs with her automated inventory tracking and programmatic data analysis work. Her time at the Q this year is dedicated to improving and updating the website you are currently on!

Nhu was born and raised in South Seattle. Outside of work, she can be found perusing art fairs, exploring a cute cafe, or getting lost in an audiobook.

Mya Hariri (she/her) is a sophomore at the University of Washington, majoring in Psychology and Communications. Coming from Woodinville, Washington, Mya feels at home in Seattle’s vibrant atmosphere. Since her teens, she has been a regular attendee of Seattle’s Pride Parade, finding inspiration in its welcoming community. Following her Freshman year, Mya even had the opportunity to intern behind the scenes with the Seattle LGBTQ+ Center, an organization that’s been aiding in the annual parade for 25 years. 

As the Digital Communications and Student Engagement Specialist at the Q Center, Mya aims to foster the same sense of acceptance she experienced at Pride. Outside of her work, Mya is an active member of Kappa Delta sorority, writes music blogs for Rainy Dawg Radio, and performs with the UW Improv Team, The Collective. With her diverse interests and experiences, Mya is committed to amplifying Queer voices and creativity through education and representation in various spaces.

Nate (he/him) is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in marketing with a minor in Spanish. He is also a member of CISB, the Certificate of International Studies in Business. He is passionate about cultivating an inclusive community on and off campus through marketing and creative efforts. Outside of class, you can find Nate on his campus radio show on RainyDawg Radio, volunteering at KEXP, and aiding in the local house show music scene. Nate is looking forward to cultivating a safe and accepting environment for his fellow LGBTQ+ and diverse student body at the University of Washington.

Reyna Houston (she/her) is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Health in the Community-Oriented Public Health Practice program. Her responsibilities include contributing to the policy literacy program by focusing on health-related policy. Additionally, in her work on policy education for the Q center, Reyna plays a key role in the Sexplanations program. This workshop-based initiative educates students and community members on sex and health.

Originally from Columbia, Missouri, Reyna brings a strong public health and advocacy background to her intern role. Reyna gained valuable experience working for an LGBTQ+ nonprofit, where she honed her skills in advocacy and community engagement. In her free time, Reyna loves to read and bike around Seattle.

Diya is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Washington. She is a double major in Sociology and Education, Communities, and Organizations. Her aim is to help queer students like herself on campus and in elementary and secondary schools. Hoping to create more inclusive and supportive environments for children, Diya is passionate about advocating for LGBTQ+ students with achieving equity in education. 

Diya is from California, and therefore, likes to travel a lot, especially to see her cats at home. Other interests include video games and sports, both being communities that she aspires to influence change in and advocate for the LGBTQ+ minority as she works with the Q Center.

MJ (she/her) is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Education, Communities & Organizations and minoring in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies. She grew up in Lake Forest Park, WA and has a deep love for the PNW. Outside of school and her part-time job as a barista, you can find MJ spending time with her partner and friends, blaring music in her headphones and urban-hiking around Seattle.

As a queer woman, MJ is motivated to create more safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth in educational spaces, especially those who are BIPOC, have disabilities, etc. She loves discussing and learning about queer media and pop culture. She looks forward to learning more about what it means to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and histories in an academic context during her time at the Q Center.