"The Pride Center provides a safe and inclusive campus environment for the community " Dr. Joshua Moon Johnson Staff / Equity Programs & Pathways Dean / American River College

Joshua serves as the Dean of Student Services, Equity Programs and Pathways, where provides direction to student life, diversity and identity-based services, and outreach and recruitment. Joshua previously served as the Assistant Dean/Director of the Multicultural Student Center at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and as the Director of the LGBT Center at UCSB. He has published three books; his first book, Beyond Surviving: From Religious Oppression to Queer Activism was a #1 Best-seller on Amazon.com for Gay & Lesbian Activism. Joshua's second book is a co-edited volume about LGBTQ leaders in higher education, Authentic Leadership. Joshua's newest book is Queer People of Color in Higher Education. Joshua received a doctorate in higher education and a certificate in LGBT studies from Northern Illinois University, and a master's degree in social sciences, student affairs, and diversity from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

"As a coordinator, Mitchell provides a network of resources, support, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ community at ARC. " Dr. Emilie Mitchell Staff / Pride Center Coordinator / American River College

Emilie Mitchell is the coordinator for the American River College Pride Center. In addition to her work with the Pride Center she is also a faculty member in the Psychology department. Emilie earned her PhD in Psychology from the University of California, Davis in 2006 and  joined the faculty at American River College in 2012. In addition, Emilie is a dedicated mother of two children, a proud lesbian, an avid home improver, Darwinian gardener, passionate educator, and social justice advocate. As coordinator she and her staff provide a network of resources, support, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ students. The Pride Center and  American River College recognize that LGBTQ+ students often face particular hurdles in attaining their educational goals. The Pride Center is here to help come on in and see us! 

"Ryan Identifies as Ace and believes that the minor identities in the queer community need more visibility due to their unique struggles and experiences. " Ryan Sunzeri Staff / Pride Center Student Peer Mentor / American River College

Ryan Sunzeri (he/him/his) is a peer mentor for the Pride Center here at ARC. He is on his third year at ARC and plans on transferring in 2020 to Sac State in hopes of becoming an art or english teacher. Ryan joined the Pride Center team hoping to help lgbtq+ find community and support on campus while progressing through an important time in their lives. Community and teamwork are very important ideals of his, having been able to grow much as a person and complete important goals with the aid of of these things. Ryan Identifies as Ace and believes that the minor identities in the queer community need more visibility due to their unique struggles and experiences. Excluding topics related to the community Ryan is very interested in drawing, painting, and reading.

"SPA for the American River College Pride Center." Alejandra Fernandez Garcia Staff / Pride Center Student Personnel Assistant (SPA) / American River College

Alejandra joined the ARC campus community in 2018. Alejandra is the SPA for the American River College Pride Center, where they coordinate events, programs, and student support services. They identify as queer, two-spirit, 2nd generation Xicanx/Latinx with roots from Guatemala and Mexico. Raised in South Sacramento, they previously served as a Youth and Family Mental Health Advocate facilitating the LGBTQ+ Support Services Program with the Sacramento City Unified School District. Alejandra holds two Bachelor's in Arts from California State University, Sacramento in Sociology and Ethnic Studies. When not serving the Pride Center, Alejandra is a performance artist, working within the mediums of theatre, dance, and music converging activism and art. As a former Los Rios Community College student, Alejandra is dedicated to working alongside students, staff, and faculty in building an equitable campus community. 

"Miller is very passionate about helping the LGBTQ+ Community. " Tori Miller Staff / Pride Center Student Peer Mentor / American River College

Tori Miller (she/her/hers) is a student peer mentor at the American River College Pride Center. Originally, she grew up in the San Diego area and moved to Sacramento her Sophomore year of high school. Being a sophomore at ARC she plans on transferring to a University by Fall 2020. Tori is currently getting her AA in Social Sciences, Sociology, Administrative Justice, Social Justice: Women, Gender, LGBT Studies, and Social Justice: Race and Ethnicity. When she transfers the plan is to major in Forensic Psychology and minor in Sociology. Also she one day hopes to get her masters in Forensic Behavioral Sciences. Being a Lesbian she is very passionate about helping the LGBTQ+ Community and wants to create a more comfortable environment for those in the community around campus where they can feel like themselves without worrying about judgement. She also wants to help those who are unaware of the community become more educated. She loves criminology, science, basketball, and singing.

" Fortman supports our LGBTQ+ students in reaching their personal, educational and career goals" Anita Fortman Faculty / Pride Center Academic Counselor / American River College

Anita Fortman is The Pride Center liaison from the ARC Counseling Department.  Anita understands that ones LGBTQ+ identities intersect with our experiences related to majors, careers, and college choice.  She is available to help students understand and navigate our community's unique challenges and opportunities.  Anita is very excited to be a part of the PRIDE Center and to provide a warm, welcoming and safe place for our students.  She earned her Master's Degree from CSU Sacramento in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and joined the ARC faculty in 2005.  Anita is a lesbian woman, travels internationally exploring cultures through food, people, music and history; plays tennis and loves to spoil her rescue dog.

"They identify as non-binary and bisexual, and plan on breaking into the Drag King community here in Sacramento as their alter-ego 'Prince Harming'." Jareth D. Ryford Staff / Pride Center Peer Mentor / American River College

Jareth (they/them/theirs) is stoked to be a part of the Pride Center's peer mentor team for the 2019/2020 school year. They identify as non-binary and bisexual, and plan on breaking into the Drag King community here in Sacramento as their alter-ego 'Prince Harming'. Jareth has recently earned one of three Theater Arts AAs available on campus, and plans to continue to UC Davis in Fall 2020 after completing the other two. As a long time student at American River College, they have seen the need for spaces like the Pride Center first hand, and are honored to be a part of making the campus safer and more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ students. They hope the work they do here will help students on campus feel less alone in their struggles and will show them that they have a community to turn to here in the Pride Center. In their free time they love blacksmithing, baking, making costumes, and playing electric ukulele/vocals in their yet to be named punk band.