MARK SMITH, PhD

President

Dr. Smith joined the Barry faculty in 1997 and teaches courses in policy and practice. He received a BS in Early Childhood Education and taught elementary and pre-school before earning an MSW from San Francisco State University in 1990. Dr. Smith’s extensive professional practice background includes inpatient psychiatric hospital work, medical/hospital social work, HIV/AIDS, crisis response, grief work, and child/adolescent/family therapy. His professional interests include emerging postmodern practice, narrative approaches, group work, participant/ qualitative research, identity development, sexual minorities, and gay youth.

TOBIAS PACKER

Co-Vice President

Since 2005 Tobias Packer has served as a vital member of Equality Florida’s staff. In his current role as the New Media Manager, Tobias utilizes his unique mixture of traditional organizing principles and deep knowledge of new technologies to increase the organization’s reach.

During his tenure with Equality Florida, Tobias has spearheaded numerous community based campaigns both responding to far right political attacks and building support for anti-discrimination ordinances, safe schools policies, and domestic partnership laws at the local level. Most recently Tobias played a leadership role in the Fairness for All Families Campaign, the campaign launched to combat Florida’s so-called “marriage protection” amendment. During the course of the campaign he spearheaded an aggressive online program that brought in hundreds of volunteers.

Tobias specializes in groundbreaking new media strategies that bridge the gap between the grassroots and the netroots.

VIVIAN MARTHELL

Co-Vice President

Vivian Marthell believes in collaboration. She is a visual artist with a background in installation art, photography and science. Vivian is community-oriented with over 14 years experience in non-profit management and has extensive experience managing cultural activities. A proven grant writer, Vivian has received several awards of note. Presently, she serves on the Board of Directors for Alliance for GLBTQ Youth, the Alliance Council and creates Youth Enrichment Activities (YEA!) for Miami-Dade County LGBTQ Youth and their allies.

In addition, she has contributed articles to the arts column of the Miami New Times, and has lectured on Art Activism and on the Artist and the Institution at the University of New Mexico and the University of Miami. Vivian has received awards for her artwork and has been a recipient of a Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Community Grant, an International Cultural Exchange Grant, the State of Florida’s Cultural Affairs Artist Enhancement Grant and also participated in a research residency at University of Western Australia in 2005.

ROBERT LUPO

Treasurer

Robert is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Safe Schools South Florida. He is a native of South Carolina, and has been a resident of South Florida since 1979. He earned his B.A from Presbyterian College (cum laude) in 1973, his MS from Nova Southeastern University in 1999, and his post-Masters Certification in Guidance & Counseling from St. Thomas University in 2000.

He is a TRUST Counselor for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and has been a teacher and counselor for Miami-Dade County Public Schools since 1985. He was a high school English teacher for 14 years prior to becoming a TRUST Counselor.

Robert co-founded Safe Schools South Florida (formerly GLSEN South Florida and the Educators Group of South Florida) with Rolly Funk in 1991. Its mission was and is to create safer schools for all – including GLBTQ youth and their families and those perceived as such. Since its founding, Safe Schools South Florida has been instrumental in creating Miami-Dade School Board policies which protect students and staff from harassment and discrimination; establishing domestic partner benefits through the school union, United Teachers of Dade; establishing and conducting dozens of training programs on GLBTQ issues for school faculties and staff throughout the school district and South Florida; hosting annual Youth Empowerment Conferences – now in its 12th year – for hundreds of GLBTQ students and their allies throughout Miami-Dade County, as well as Broward.

Robert is honored to have been part of the creation of the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth and to currently serve on its Council and Board.

ROLAND FERNANDEZ

Member

Roland Fernandez has called South Florida home since 1993. He attended Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey and graduated with a BS in finance. He has over sixteen years experience in the South Florida banking industry, most recently with HSBC. Roland has embraced Ghandi’s quote, “be the change you wish to see in the world,” as his personal credo. His goal as a member of the board is to be an example and a mentor to the young people of GLBTQ community on the merits of principles and perseverance.

RACHEL SOTTILE

Member

Rachel Sottile, M.S., Executive Director, YES Institute. Rachel has served as an executive administrator in non-profit and state government for the last 9 years. As Executive Director of YES Institute, she is spearheading the rapidly growing organization, which provides unique and powerful educational models on gender and orientation. She coordinates partnerships throughout the U.S. and Latin America with leaders in business, healthcare, religion, and juvenile justice who are committed to creating safe environments for all youth.

MANUEL TEJEDA, PhD

Member

Manuel Tejeda holds a BA in Psychology & Computer Science, MS in Educational & Psychological Sciences, and PhD in Organizational Behavior & Research Methods from University of Miami.  Dr. Tejeda joined the faculty of Andreas School of Business in 2000 and he is currently a professor of Management & Psychology. Dr. Tejeda is an active scholar whose research interests are “leader behaviors”, more specifically the development and maintenance of high-quality leader-subordinate relationships as seen in charismatic leadership, mentoring, and leader-member exchange processes.  Dr. Tejeda is active in the area of research methods and statistics working in the areas of random regression, psychometrics and covariance structure analysis on problems. Dr. Tejeda is also interested in diversity issues and how they influence organizational culture and individual performance, of particular interest to him are issues affecting Hispanic & LGBTQ populations. 
 
As Executive Director of the Barry Institute for Community and Economic Development (BICED), Dr. Tejeda works with non-profit organizations and social entrepreneurs to strengthen their capacity in delivering services, advancing fiscal stability and promoting sustainable economic growth within communities.  Additionally, Dr. Tejeda focuses BICED’s attention on specific problems affecting under-served populations and neighborhoods, specifically promoting social justice, eliminating economic disparities and increasing access to education.