As of July 1, the LGBTQ+ Employee Alliance has welcomed new leadership for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
- Raj Dave (he/him), an instructor in the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences, moved from the role of president to advisor.
- Kari Zelenka (she/her), organizational excellence lead for the Nebraska Medicine Operational Improvement Department, has moved from vice president to president of the alliance. Zelenka is serving in her second year as a leader.
- Meg Ryan (she/her), office associate in the UNMC Office of Inclusion, has been elected to the vice president role, which is a three-year commitment.
- Emma Skow (she/they), senior administrative assistant in the Nebraska Medicine Clinical Quality Department, has been elected treasurer, which is a two-year commitment.
- Ash Aldabute (she/her), certified nursing assistant at Nebraska Medicine, will serve as secretary in her first leadership role with the alliance.
Dave, the outgoing president, said the alliance has grown stronger than ever in the past year, creating a framework to encourage participation from all members of the med center community in a manner best suited to each individual.
"I wish to acknowledge the effort of each and every member of the alliance in supporting and shaping our mission," he said. "Given the challenges of our times, now more than ever it is crucial for our voices to be heard."
Ryan has committed to a three-year leadership role in the alliance, with the vice president eventually serving as president and then as advisor to the president.
"I think there is this pressure to assimilate in academia and health care, to not rock the boat and blend in," Ryan said. "That really works against the LGBTQ+ community and, without the ERG representation in academics and health care, can start to look a lot like tokenism."
The pathway to changing these tendencies, Ryan said, is to increase visibility and representation. That’s part of the reason why she wanted to pursue a leadership position in the alliance.
"If I’m not willing to be a little personally uncomfortable, go out on a limb, be seen and be vulnerable for myself, then how am I supposed to do that for others?" Ryan asked.
In the next year, Zelenka, the incoming president, hopes to strengthen community ties by continuing the alliance’s involvement in the Omaha LGBT employee resource group leadership coalition that was started in June and identifying service opportunities for members.
"Our colleagues from NM and UNMC who are interested in participating in the Employee Alliance are welcome to become active members by attending meetings and participating in one of the many subcommittees we have, or they could be a supporting member and attend events when they are able," she said. "Alliance members will be planning an educational event this fall/winter, Pride in the summer, and several smaller events in between."
Congrats Kari!