Meet the Staff

Gisela P Vega

Gisela P Vega

Director, Student Affairs Program

(305) 284-3935 x1702
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Dr. Vega comes to UM with over 25 years of higher education experience.  She has presented at national and international conferences, countless workshops, and is passionate about diversity education, social justice, and addressing issues of access and choice in higher education. Providing students...
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Nicholas Diaz

Administrative Assistant (A)

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Ariana Glaser

Ariana Glaser

Student Assistant

Ariana (she/her) is a freshman from Long Island, New York pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Frost's Singer/Songwriter program with a double major in Journalism. Ariana is the author of several novels (her most recent published work was “She Remembers” with Foundations Books, which earned a #1 Ranking in its category on Amazon); she is currently searching for a publisher for her most recent work. Her original music is also available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. As a student assistant at the LGBTQ center, Ariana applies her creativity to her position as staff writer for the Pride Press newsletter.

Molly O'Donnell

Molly O'Donnell

Student Assistant

Molly O'Donnell (she/her/hers) is a freshman from Seattle majoring in Music Education. She is a classical vocalist pursuing a career in choral music and ensemble leadership, but she also has a deep love for politics, theatre, and intersectional advocacy. Molly is excited to be working at the LGBTQ Center this year as a social media manager and office organizer.

Samuel Rose

Samuel Rose

Student Assistant

Samuel Rose (he/him) is a freshman from South Florida majoring in Music Theory and Composition. As a composer, his music has been performed around the world, including performances in Vienna, Brussels, and at The Juilliard School in New York. As a pianist, he has given concerts at Mozart’s house in Austria, as well as many local venues around Florida. Samuel is excited to work as the office organizer at the LGBTQ Center this year.

Vanna Smart

Vanna Smart

Student Assistant

Vanna (she/her/hers) is a senior studying Public Administration, Political Science, and American Studies, with minors in Law and Politics and Spanish. She was born and raised in the Carolinas. Vanna got her start in the Center as a Pride Ambassador, where she founded her student organization Out in Government. Vanna currently serves as the President of Out in Government and remains a Senior Pride Ambassador entering her third year. Vanna volunteered at all major LGBTQ Center events in the past few years, which drove her interest in her role as the current Major Events Coordinator for the Center.

Janry Tang

Janry Tang

Student Assistant

Janry (she/her/hers) is from Fort Myers, Florida. She is studying Quantitative Economics, and plans to double major in Business Analytics. Janry loves volunteering and creating a sense of community. She is looking forward to uniting the student body by planning events with the LGBTQ+ center, and she's excited to get involved with the diverse community with her position as a student assistant.

Mia Vargas

Mia Vargas

Student Assistant

Mia is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a minor in Spanish. Trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and shaped by her multicultural background, she brings a global perspective to her work. With aspirations of becoming a diplomat, Mia is committed to driving meaningful change within her community and on a global scale. She serves on the Youth Commission and leads community projects focused on mental health advocacy, and inclusion. As a student assistant at the LGBTQ+ Center, she applies her passion for cultures, languages, and community building to her role.

Kenadie Willis

Kenadie Willis

Student Assistant

Kenadie is a freshman majoring in Nursing with a passion for caring for others. In high school, Kenadie captained her school’s first volleyball team, co-founded Mochaskin Cosmetics, and led several community projects, including creating body butter for skin cancer patients. She also stayed active in clubs like National Honor Society, Yearbook, and Fashion Club. Now in college, she is focused on building a future in healthcare while still finding ways to blend creativity, service, and leadership.

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Payton McKinnis

Graduate Assistant

Payton McKinnis is a second-year graduate student pursuing her Master of Music in Vocal Performance. Payton earned her Bachelor of Music at Chapman University. At Chapman’s Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, she held varying leadership roles in collegiate performing ensembles, and several student worker positions, including choral librarian, tutor, and panelist for prospective students. In her time at the U, Payton has enjoyed her involvement with Frost Opera Theater and performing with Florida Grand Opera’s outreach program for Miami-Dade K-12 students. Payton is very excited to continue her work at the Center this year!

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