Jean was born in New York City, and began her career as a Registered Nurse in 1967, after graduating from Nassau Community College. She was co-founder of the St. Marks Free Clinic in NYC, and was a leader in the women's and health care rights movements in the 60's and 70's. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Community Health from the State University of New York in 1981, and a Master's Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University in 1982.

In previous roles, Jean has been a key liaison to Michigan State University, where she served on a number of joint boards and advisory groups which were charged with improving City- University relations, and was a recipient of the "Citizenship Leadership" Award from the Office of Student Life at MSU in 2002.

Jean and her life partner, Marjan Bouwmeester, have two married daughters, Maaike and Florien, living in New York City.

From this point on, I've committed my actions to ensuring every person the opportunity to learn safely, with respect and appreciation for difference. I believe that the GLBT Alumni Association of MSU will further this commitment.

Michigan State holds a special place in my heart, in part because of family tradition. When I walk across campus and hear the band practice, my mind races back to my childhood. Suddenly, I'm reliving football games with my family, feeding the ducks, and being amazed by the sheer beauty of our campus."

Brandon Brown is a Staffing Coordinator with Kelly Services, Inc.

He earned his BA in Communication from Michigan State University in 2004. He currently resides in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Brian Cullin earned his B.A. in economics from Michigan State University in 1981. He then graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1984, and joined the Detroit-based law firm of Dickinson, Wright, Moon, Van Dusen & Freeman. In 1996 Brian joined the General Motors Legal Staff, where he is currently employed as an attorney.

He was a member of the steering committee that recommended the creation of a GLBT alumni association at Michigan State, and served as the association’s inaugural president. Before his participation in those efforts, Brian was significantly involved in volunteer efforts to enhance the lives of GLBT people in Michigan. He served as board member and then the longest serving president of Affirmations Community Center in Detroit and has been a member of the Executive and Legal Committees of the Michigan Campaign for Human Dignity, the Grants Committee of Steppin’ Out, the Development Committee of the HOPE Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, and the Special Allocations Committee of United Way Community Services of Southeast Michigan. While at Michigan State, Brian was involved in Towerguard, served as Assistant Business Manager (1978-’79) and then Business Manager (1979 – 80) of the Red Cedar Log yearbook, and was an economics teaching assistant (1980 – 81).

He and his partner, Jeff Vogel, currently reside in Huntington Woods and Douglas, Michigan with their dog, Buddy.

Martha Bates is Acquisitions Editor, Michigan State University Press. She is a veteran of the publishing industry having studied with Mary Lee Settle at Bard College. In her spare time, she teaches “How to Write, Get Published, and Survive the Reviews” at writing workshops. Martha has served as Vice President and Treasurer of the Association.

She resides with her girlfriend Kate in Lansing, Michigan.

Brent Bilodeau is Director, Office of Lesbian, Bi, Gay and Transgender Concerns at Michigan State University. He volunteers—in addition to his work and studies—as Member, Board of Directors, MSU Gay and Lesbian Faculty and Staff Association (GLFSA). He is also Member, National Consortium of LBGT Campus Resource Directors in Higher Education.

In 1985,he earned his B.A. - Psychology from the University of California, Irvine. He then graduated in 1987 from Michigan State University, with an M.A. - College and University Administration, Brent is currently earning a PhD - Higher Adult and Life Long Education at Michigan State University. He currently resides in E. Lansing.

Chris Higgins is Senior Associate Director of MBA Career Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Chris has a Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration (1996) and a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising (1993) both from Michigan State University. While at MSU, Chris was active in Air Force and Army ROTC, Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega and served as a Resident Assistant.

Chris lives in Philadelphia with his partner, Michael Mendolia. He is active in the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network and the Board of Directors for Equality Forum.

John is Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Grand Valley State University.

He formerly served on the boards of MSU Gay and Lesbian Faculty and Staff Association, Lansing Association for Human Rights, Michigan Organization for Human Rights, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

In 1985, John earned his B.A. – Telecommunication from Michigan State University. He earned his MPA – Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University in 2006. He currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his partner, John Legge.

Ronald Moore recently retired from Hewlett Packard after 26 years in a myriad of roles focused mostly in human resources, but also with some business unit roles. As an HR professional, he actively represented H-P in the various political and business communities where he lived including the San Francisco-area, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York City—as well as working with the Latin America business unit. He was also responsible for Diversity Employee Development. This included identifying diversity-oriented conferences, leadership development programs, and managing employee resource groups.

He presently works with the Kimberly-Clark Company as its Diversity and Inclusion Director.

Ronald has been involved in various Metro Atlanta organizations, including the Board of Directors of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Medical Center, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Junior Achievement of Atlanta, and Project Open Hand (serving meals to people living with HIV / critical illnesses). He served as president of the Atlanta Executive Network, a business networking organization from June 2000 to January 2002. Ronald is an active member of St. Mark United Methodist Church, in midtown Atlanta.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Ronald received a B.A. - Communications, an M.A. - Counseling, and an M.A. - Labor and Industrial Relations—all from Michigan State University. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

MSU also is a place that’s growing in its relationship to its GLBT community, and I think the new GLBT Alumni Association is a very important step forward in recognizing and welcoming this community as a part of the university. I believe it’s essential to a school’s mission to foster a welcoming and safe environment for all of its community members. I work to do this in my college classrooms, and I’m excited to be part of the work to do this now in an organization that I wish were there when I was a young student."

Claudia Skutar graduated from MSU with a B.A. in English in 1979 and an M.A. in English in 2000. She’s currently finishing her doctorate in English at the University of Cincinnati, where she serves as an assistant professor at the university’s Raymond Walters College.