Jim is honored to be a member of the Wichita Pride Board, joining in late 2018. He is a military brat, who came to Kansas as a child. He graduated from Derby sometime during the last century, followed by KU and KUMC. He lived in Houston for 36 years, retiring from U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 2017. Jim and his husband George moved to Wichita in 2017. Jim's goal for Wichita Pride to evolve to a more year-round organization, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community 365
Jordan is in their second year on the board and first year as Vice President for Wichita Pride. Jordan identifies as Non-binary Transmasc and uses they/them pronouns. They are excited to take on this role to help create safe spaces for their community as Wichita was the first place they felt safe to be their authentic self. Jordan also serves on the DEAI committee at Sedgwick County Zoo and heads the Pride efforts to make the zoo a safe place for all. If Jordan isn't at the zoo you can catch them reading or buying more plants for their home.
Chris was born in Virginia, and has lived across the country before moving to Wichita in 2014. He joined the Pride Board as Treasurer in 2022, and daylights as an accountant. Chris joined Pride to use his professional skills for the benefit of a marginalized community. When not doing accounting work, he can be found at music festivals or reading.
Evelyn has been living in Wichita for one year with her wonderful girlfriend, and has enjoyed serving on the Pride Board since February of 2023. She is excited to utilize her education to serve her community as a recent graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Sociology and minors in Music, Psychology, Women & Gender Studies, and Ethnic studies. She currently works as a Research Assistant with the KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Outside of work and board, Evelyn enjoys crafting earrings, cooking, singing, and spending time with her big orange cat O’Malley.
Emerson Ross joined the Pride Board in 2023 and is delighted to be the Entertainment Director for Wichita Pride 2024. As a performing artist and a Wichita native, Emerson has found great joy in amplifying local queer art in the community through Wichita Pride. He is a graduate of Wichita State University. Emerson strives to embrace activism, acceptance, and accessibility throughout his artistic endeavors, and is grateful for the opportunities to do so on the Pride Board.
Logan Bruyr-Geist joined the Pride Board in 2023. He grew up in a small town in Western KS and moved to the Wichita area for college where he was first exposed to the LGBTQ community and his journey to understanding himself truly began. He finished college at Wichita State University, and is now the general manager of a locally-based Internet retail company. When he is not working or volunteering for the Pride Board, Logan enjoys spending time with his husband in their hot tub, enjoying his friends, and watching his backyard chickens while imagining his next garden project. Logan is inspired by one of President Jim Hall‘s favorite quotes: Remember, “every pride is somebody’s first pride,” so get out, introduce yourself, include others, and make Community happen.
Anders has been volunteering with Wichita Pride since 2016 and this will be the third year he has served as Parade Director. He currently works in the field of medical social work. Volunteering with Pride is important to him because he has seen how much joy the parade, festival and other events bring to people each year, and being able to contribute to it is highly rewarding. Outside of work, he is passionate about strategy games and art history.
Kelsey is a Fort Hays State University graduate, and has been residing in Wichita for nearly eight years. As an outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys spending time kayaking, traveling, and camping with wife, Ali. When they aren’t paddling down a river together, they enjoy hanging out at home with their rescued fur babies, two dogs and four cats. Her passion for wanting to help make Wichita a safe and inclusive space for all humans is what led her to join Wichita Pride. She is people-focused, results oriented, and widely recognized for the trusting, collaborative relationships she builds. Kelsey actively champions diversity and inclusion in her everyday life and is an active member of her workplace’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness and Belonging (DEIB) committee at The University of Kansas Health System.
Natalie is a proud member and mother to a member of the LGBTQIA2+ community. Being born and raised in the Wichita area, she is focused on making Wichita a place for LGBTQIA2+ families to live, work and play. Her day job at Textron Aviation involves creating an inclusive environment where employees can come to work as themselves and be respected, creating an environment of success for all. As Chair of Fusion, the Employee Resource Group for Textron Aviation LGBTQIA2+ employees and allies, she focuses on education, advocacy and community. She co-leads SafeZone training to educate employees on LGBTQIA2+ topics and creating a space for open conversations. She joined the Wichita Pride board to carry on this work outside of her day job and fill her own bucket. On the homefront, Natalie enjoys assembling jigsaw puzzles, watching college softball, camping, and reading with her wife, Lisa; daughter, Luna; granddaughter, Siccorah; dog, Bodhi; cat, Aura; and attack cat/dog Piko.
Ollie is in their second term on the board after joining in 2023 to connect with the community in Wichita. They graduated from Kansas State University where they were involved with Sexuality and Gender Alliance as treasurer. Since then, they felt they needed to do more for their community than just passively participate, and hope to serve Wichita in the same way they served KSU. Ollie is also an amateur drag king, performing under the name "Dougie No-Nuts" wherever has an amateur night. Outside of drag, Ollie enjoys reading and playing dungeons and dragons with their friends and partner.
Jenny is an advocate, cat mom, and silly goose. She’s back on the Pride Board after returning to Wichita last year. Jenny loves Pride and connects with their community by hosting queer meet ups through Queer Connect ICT. When they’re not volunteering, Jenny spends her free time sewing, camping, and crying at musicals.
If you are interested in learning more, join us for a Board Meeting or reach out to info@wichitapride.org.