Training of Trainers (ToT) Bios

Jan 08, 2007

Oswaldo Luciano, MS, is the Educational Training Manager for the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, responsible for overseeing the Training of Trainers Program. Oswaldo received his BA from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, NY, majoring both in Community Health Education and in Spanish. He completed his MS in Health Services Management and Policy from Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy. Oswaldo has dedicated most of his professional experience to serving underprivileged communities both abroad and in New York City. In the Dominican Republic, where he was born, he created prevention education programs for youth at risk of HIV, domestic violence, STIs, and pregnancy. In New York he has held a variety of positions focused on behavioral research, counseling, health education, professional training and risk reduction. He has varied experience conducting field based and on-site research and co-authored a number of conference presentations and articles published in peer-reviewed journals. In his free time, you can find Oswaldo at the opera, making his friends laugh, planning his next trip or sitting next to his boyfriend in the dog run while Oswaldo's dog, Golfo, plays.

Madelaine Adelman, PhD, is the Founder and Co-chair of GLSEN Phoenix and a member of the GLSEN National Advisory Council. Dr. Adelman is an Associate Professor in the School of Justice & Social Inquiry at Arizona State University. She obtained her PhD in Cultural Anthropology and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from Duke University. Dr. Adelman’s research centers on the politics of domestic violence in Israel and the US and her work has been published in social science journals such as Violence Against Women, Law & Society Review, Political and Legal Anthropology Review, Human Organization, and the American Ethnologist and Journal of Poverty. She contributes to a number of local social justice education initiatives, including the Education Committee of the Anti-Defamation League-AZ, the LGBT Community Advisory Board of the Maricopa Community College system, one of the largest in the US, and the National Conference for Community and Justice Anytown Camps. Inspired by her GLSEN and GLSEN-related community education activities, Madelaine has developed a new research project that focuses on the safe school social movement.

Monroe France, MA, is the Educational Trainer for the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. Monroe received his BA in English with an emphasis in African American Literature from John Carroll University, Cleveland, OH and completed a dual MA in Higher Education Administration and Cultural Studies in Education from The Ohio State University. He is currently studying Fashion Merchandise Management at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Monroe’s passion for anti-oppression and social justice work has translated into his regularly presenting, facilitating trainings and workshops, and speaking at conferences, universities, and community-based programs. Monroe is currently on the board of Al-Fatiha Foundation, an LGBTQ Muslim organization; he is the board fiscal officer for Queers for Economic Justice, NYC; and he served on the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change Conference, People of Color Organizing Initiative Planning Committee from 2000-2004. In between managing professional and community-based commitments, Monroe enjoys studying the newest fashion trends, listening to music, planning social gatherings, traveling, reading, physical fitness, dining out, and spending time with his partner and friends.

Roman Goldin is currently pursuing a BA in Sociology from the State Univerity of New York at Purchase College. While attending Stuyvesant High School in New York City, he was a student organizer with GLSEN for two years. Since graduating in 2004, Roman spent his summer and winter vacations working as the Education Department Intern at the GLSEN National office. As a member of the Training of Trainers team, he hopes to bring his experience with the work that GLSEN does to as many people as possible. Roman has participated in a number of trainings programs, including the Hudson Valley ToT. His interests outside the world of social justice and social change include studying culture and foreign languages, fashion, film, going to concerts and shows, poetry, cooking, and his shameless addiction to reality television.

Denise Ham is an experienced facilitator in all aspects of anti-bias and prejudice reduction. Her programs include staff development, peer training and self-assessment workshops. Denise conducts trainings for the Education Divisions of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN). She is actively involved in a multitude of civic and community programs that help foster a better understanding of and respect for all. As a small business owner, Denise developed character education programs to advance young children’s understanding and respect for others. Founder of Diversity Committee for the Half Hollow Hills School District, she has been honored by numerous organizations for promoting concepts and ideas that recognize the importance of valuing all individuals. Issues addressed include racism, religious intolerance, ableism, and discrimination based on sexual orientation. Denise is passionate about raising awareness of biases and helping facilitate the dialogue needed to eliminate them.

Cynthia Martin is a multidimensional educator working in the field of training and development for more than 15 years and has specialized in the areas of diversity and anti-bias education. She has experience in the development and facilitation of skills based training programs on topics such as cultural competency, bias-awareness, prejudice reduction, diversity, sexuality, and health and wellness related topics. Cynthia has conducted such seminars for both public and private sector personnel, at all levels of responsibility from hourly employees to senior management and CEO’S. Cynthia graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hunter College of the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Science degree in public health education. Her professional affiliations include the American Society of Training & Development and the Society of Public Health Educators.

Derrick Miller-Handley has been active in the safer schools movement with GLSEN since 1997. A survivor of anti-gay violence, Derrick found a voice and passion in working to end the cycles of oppression that claim the respect, dignity, health, and lives of LGBTQ young people every day. Derrick has provided training and education in LGBTQ issues to thousands of staff and students in local school communities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and greater United States. Derrick specializes in real-world prevention and intervention strategies that respond to the diverse needs of school communities- including race, class, culture and gender identity. Alongside his work in schools, Derrick has been involved with HIV prevention risk-reduction education in LGBTQ youth communities, and the development of innovative skill-building programs for at-risk youth. The belief that all communities must be granted the opportunity to thrive drives the passion and commitment of Derrick’s work.

Leif Mitchell is the Assistant Director for the Community Research Core at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA) at Yale University. He received a BA in Political Science and Psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Prior to coming to CIRA, Leif was a Sexuality Educator/Trainer for Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, an administrator for the Stonewall Community Foundation in New York City, and the Gay Youth Educator for AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati. Leif is the Co-chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and a member of the GLSEN’s National Advisory Council. Leif has compiled, edited and published a resource module for educators, Tackling Gay Issues in School, which has been distributed internationally. Leif is also the President of Community Works of Connecticut, a workplace giving federation whose members focus on social justice work. Leif trains on sexuality and diversity issues for GLSEN, Jodi Solomon Speakers Bureau, and the Anti-Defamation League’s A World of Difference program. In his spare time, he enjoys spending quality time working out, having dinners, enjoying music and dancing with his fiancé, Will, friends and family.

De Palazzo is a conflict resolution educator and current president of Perspectives Unlimited, Inc. In these roles, De facilitates intercultural dialogue between youth and adults. She has designed and facilitated curriculum for diversity programs and is the past Program Director of the National Conference for Community and Justice, a human relations organization dedicated to countering bias and bigotry through advocacy, conflict resolution and education. Her strong academic and practical background in school violence prevention and intervention led her to a Masters Degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in school system conflict. De writes conflict resolution curriculum for school district after- school programs and delivers anti-bias and conflict resolution training to schools in the U.S as a consultant and trainer for Community Matters, a nonprofit committed to empowering youth in K-higher education schools and universities.