AJ is a queer youth activist/researcher who attends the University of North Texas (UNT) majoring in Psychology and minoring in LGBT Studies and Women's Studies. She has worked with the Texas GSA Network family for 3 years and is still loving it. AJ is an experienced facilitator with a focus on educating youth and adult allies about addressing homo/transphobia, GSA development, and building community coalitions in North and Central Texas. During the school semesters, AJ is a Research Assistant for UNT's Center for Psychosocial Health with a concentration on the queer community and stress. She also works as a Teaching Assistant for the class HLTH 2200: Family Development & Human Sexuality (AJ highly recommends everyone to take that class). On her days off, she likes to play songs on her ukulele, watch witty/ humorous TV shows on Netflix and ride off into the sunset on her motorcycle with her hair, figuratively, flowing through the wind.

Alex Barksdale, Regional Intern (Houston/East Texas):

I am an Austin native (or at least I consider myself to be) who is currently a junior at Rice University in Houston studying anthropology and the study of women, gender and sexuality. I have an interest in feminist and queer scholarship and how it does and can inform activism. I am also interested in the intersections of identities and systems of oppression (race, class, gender, sexuality, colonialism, capitalism, etc.). When I'm not doing work for classes I can be found mostly at my computer finding good timewasters as well as good music. I am a vegetarian and love learning to cook new dishes. I also love spoken word performances and all different forms of art in general and exploring the art/music scene in Houston and Austin. I hope to find a way in which activism can become a large part of my life and also how to make my scholarship a useful tool in that pursuit.

Andi Gentile, Regional Director

Andi grew up in New York City, and a few years ago put on her cowgirl boots and traded the big city for the better one, making the move to Austin. She has been committed to social justice since her involvement in her own high school's QSA, and has dedicated herself to social change work, most recently with organizations including Soulforce Q and Domestic Workers United  Andi served as an intern on the Texas GSA Network's administrative team since 2009, and was excited to return home to the Network as Regional Director in 2011. Outside of working with the network, you'll find Andi in her kitchen in a chef's hat and pajamas, cooking up a storm!

Angie Clark, Administrative Intern

Originally from Arizona, Angie now resides in East Austin. She currently attends Austin Community College pursuing an associate's degree in Social Work with motives to earn her Master's one day from the University of Texas. Angie says that the Texas GSA mission and values are ever permeating her own life and outlook, and she has the greatest respect and care for all of the members of the Texas GSA family. Angie is driven to take a place in the queer youth revolution as a proud, queer and fiesty grrrrl of color. Angie plays bass and likes zines.

Emily Moore, Regional Intern (East Texas, College Station)

Gabi Padilla, Program Director

Gabi is a queer youth community organizer who attends Garza IHS and has been an active member of the Out Youth family for nearly two years. Gabi is a seasoned trainer focusing on educating youth and adult allies about addressing homo/transphobia, GSA development, and building community coalitions in the greater Austin region and across Texas. When not working on queer youth advocacy, Gabi enjoys (real) chai tea, Hip Hop music production and poetry, and as a guilty but oh so wonderful pleasure, squeezes in the additional L-Word (not so real) and Glee.

Isabel Perez, Regional Intern (Central Texas, San Antonio)

Katie Wotipka, Administrative Intern

Katie is a Spanish major/Japanese minor at Texas State University. She originally got involved with the Texas GSA Network as a camper during the summer of 2009 and has been hooked on queer activism ever since. Her work with the Network is primarily focused on facilitating Youth Council Meetings keeping Kurt's penchant for diva ballads in check (without much success). Her hobbies include playing with her dog and cat, drinking tea with friends (it's always tea-time SOMEWHERE in the world), and dancing around her house to rad jams.

Kurt Cadena-Mitchell, Administrative Director

Kurt is a Latino who loves to laugh, and a native of San Antonio, Texas. Kurt holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Texas State University-San Marcos and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Social Work, with a concentration in Community and Administrative Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin.

Kurt completed his undergraduate social work internship with Communities in Schools at Eastside Memorial High School in Austin, Texas. In this setting Kurt developed and strengthened the campus Gay-Straight Alliance to become the largest Communities in Schools peer group on site. Prior to that experience Kurt served Hays County, Texas as an advocate for comprehensive sexual education policies on the Youth Leadership Council for the Texas Freedom Network and worked for several faith-based non-profits in Austin, Texas.

Kurt is a huge fan of female vocalists including Whitney Houston, Cher, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack and other classic divas. Kurt's interests include liberation theology, post-colonial feminist theory and anti-racism.

Michael Gonzales, Regional Intern, Webmaster (Central Texas, San Antonio)

Michael is a fun loving, thrill seeking, book reading maniac! He loves long walks but only on short piers! Michael started his Gay Straight Alliance in his hometown of San Antonio where he is an Intern for the Network. Michael Plans to attend San Antonio College in a daring attempt to gain skills to be a Teacher, so he can fill youth's heads with schemes to rule the world! Michael fights constantly for equal rights and loves to engage in thoughtful conversations over any topic. If Michael didn't have horrible tan lines, he would give you the shirt off his back, but just in case he always carries an extra ;) Feel free to get in contact with him if you ever need anything from the beautiful city of San Antonio.

Nik Peet, Regional Intern (Coastal, Corpus Cristi)

Rachael Owens

Rachael is an all-around ball of fun who loves to meet new people and go on new adventures. She is currently a senior at Flour Bluff High School and is the regional intern for the  South Texas area. She will be attending Texas A&M Corpus Christi next year.

Stephanie Mayoral

Stephanie Mayoral is a native New Orleanian who is living in Austin. She recently graduated with her Master's degree in Education. She also has a degree in Cultural Anthropology. She is an avid dancer, gardener, reader and mom. Stephanie is thrilled to be a part of the Texas GSA team because she wants to make a difference for queer youth and to provide opportunities to youth communities that she did not get to benefit from as a teen. Working with everyone in the Network for the health of our communities is why Stephanie is a delighted intern!