Yesterday Gov. Tom Wolf announced the first-ever Pennsylvania LGBTQ Affairs Commission, and named Lebanon Valley College alum & former staffer Todd Snovel as executive director of the 40-person group.
Update August 8: Thanks to a reader who let us know that Todd is a Palmyra High School graduate too!
The commission will help coordinate and drive statewide equality efforts.
Snovel most recently served as the assistant dean of student engagement and learning and before that as the director of student engagement. This 2016 video captures the magnetic personality of Snovel – the type of personality that could even carry a Zumba course.
In 2014, Snovel was given the Athena Award by the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce; the first-ever male to receive the award, his acceptance speech reflects a truly humble attitude:
There are so many people who are truly deserving of this honor, and by no means do I try to serve the community for any of this recognition. There are plenty of people who are doing great things and have as much chance of winning this.
Todd Snovel, Todd Snovel receives Chamber of Commerce’s Athena Award (Reading Eagle)
The executive order details the responsibilities of Snovel and the commission:
- Advise the Governor
- Develop, review, and recommend policies
- Provide assistance and advice to other departments
- Serve as a liasion to federal, state, and local agencies
- Serve as a community resouce
- Identify resources for LGBTQ community
- Promote the cultural arts of the community
- Promote relevant state efforts to the community
Other standout names on the committee include Philadelphians Representative Brian Sims, Malcolm Kenyatta, and Anne Wakabayashi. Pittsburgh Representative Dan Frankel is also on the committee. Find the full list below.
- Chair – Anne Wakabayashi
- Co-Vice-Chair – Shaashawn Dial
- Co-Vice-Chair – Tyler Titus
- Ben Allatt
- Rich Askey
- Mark Barbee
- Chris Bartlett
- Rosemary Browne
- Patricia Bucek
- Kathy Cameron
- Joanne Carroll
- Marc Coleman
- Katharine Dalke
- Jim DePoe
- Senator Lawrence Farnese
- Representative Dan Frankel
- Elicia Gonzales
- Amber Hikes
- Jodi Hirsh
- Malcolm Kenyatta
- Michele Kessler
- Jason Landau Goodman
- Maryellen Madden
- Jere Mahaffey
- Michael Mahler
- Adil Mansoor
- Adanjesús Marín
- Sean Meloy
- Gerald Montano
- Sebastian Pelaez
- Brian Patchcoski
- Sarah Rosso
- Kristin Seale
- Adrian Shanker
- Henry Sias
- Representative Brian Sims
- Sean Strub
- Roberto “Tito” Valdes
- Harry Young
- Heshie Zinman