Issues LGBTQ+ Individuals Face and Overcome Every Day Panelists

Adrianne Bross

Adrienne Bross is an academic librarian and independent author. They graduated from Drexel University with a Master of Science in Library and Information Sciences after falling in love with academia and working in the academic library. They have been with Saint Elizabeth University since 2017 as Electronic Resources Librarian, passionately advocating for accessibility, diversity, and information literacy for the undergraduate and graduate students of the SEU community.

An active member of the LGBTQ+ community, Adrienne is trans, nonbinary, and genderfluid. They use any pronouns and encourage those around them to share and be comfortable in their own selves. When not at work, they are at home with their spouse, Michael, and their kiddo, Ariadne, who is both nonbinary and far better at Fortnite than anyone her age has any right to be.

Cline Berardo

Cline Berardo (They/Them): Is a junior majoring in English with minors in History and Secondary Education. They work as an Honors program student aide, Student Ambassador, and Team Blue member, and help out with Tutoring as well. In their free time, they work on a farm taking care of and playing with horses, dogs, and a pig. They plan on becoming a high school English teacher following graduation, with graduate school on the horizon. Cline is currently working on legitimizing the works of marginalized writers and is presenting that topic not only at WREC but also the Northeast Regional Honors Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

Caitlin Dolch

Caitlin Dolch is a social worker who is currently working at EDGE NJ, an HIV+ an LGBTQ+ center, where she works as the intake care coordinator. She is responsible with greeting and guiding new clients of EDGE to the resources they need. She graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 2021 with a Bachelors in Social Work and is looking to eventually return to schooling to earn a Master’s degree. When not at work, she finds herself at home with her family and dog, either playing video games or crocheting yet another blanket for someone in her life. She identifies as an Asexual cis woman and is happy to encourage those around her to not be fearful of exploring their own self.

Lori Tarke

Dr. Tarke is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Sites for SEU's PA Program. She leads several courses in leadership, service, communication, quality, and team dynamics. Her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion drives her to establish a variety of community engagement events throughout the year. She is the founder of the Northeast Pre-PA conference, Education and Research Chair for the NJ State Society of Physician Assistants, and volunteer to a variety of local not for profits.

Dr. Tarke continues to be a nationally recognized platform speaker, not for profit leader, and advocate whose expertise falls under the umbrellas of diversity and inclusion, leadership, learning and development, and human resources. Dr. Tarke has been repeatedly recruited by the American Healthcare Association, NJ Healthcare Association, NJ Association of Community Providers, and hospital and long-term care systems throughout the tristate area to develop the skills of all levels of employees. Dr. Tarke transfers communication, leadership, and team knowledge through her previous projects with organizations in higher education, government, team sports, and more. Dr. Tarke earned her doctorate of health sciences in organizational leadership from A.T. Still University.

Jahmila Smith

Jahmila Smith is a proud Bronx native with over four years of experience working with diverse groups and populations. Her work and advocacy started during her undergrad years at Hofstra University, where she majored in Sociology, with minors in Psychology and Women’s Studies. Jahmila became a member of The Pride Network, the LGBTQ organization on campus. She continued this work post grad, supporting young adults in middle school and high school.

Jahmila has a background working with youth and young adults with adverse experiences, supporting them with their educational and vocational goals, as well as providing emotional support, so that they grow into happy, thriving adults.

She has worked with Phipps Neighborhoods, in The Bronx, where she was a student advocate, and then became Program Coordinator, where she focused on the daily activities and functioning of one of their after-school programs. She went on to work at Graham Windham, assisting and coaching young people to age 26. She is passionate about mental health and wellness, women empowerment, social-emotional learning, literacy, nutrition, and community activism. Currently she serves as the Project Manager for Older Adults and Health & Wellness + DEI Trainer at Garden State Equality.