LGBTQIA+ Alliance

To become a member of the LGBTQIA+ Alliance employee resource group, please submit a membership form so you can be informed of upcoming meetings and events. There is no cost associated with membership and no time commitments. Members can attend as many meetings and events as they would like. Individual membership in ERGs is strictly voluntary and open to all employees who are interested in joining, regardless of identity. Refer to the ERG benefits and guidelines for more information.

Leadership

Ashley Werlinich, Co-Lead

Ashley Werlinich is the faculty liaison to English and Drama at Carnegie Mellon University Libraries. She also serves as the co-liaison to the Entertainment Technology Center and constantly seeks new ways to partner with both the CMU community and the Pittsburgh community more broadly. Ashley also fosters library connections with students and faculty through her commitment to outreach; she hosts many outreach events on campus, including zine-making events, workshops on arts entrepreneurship, and is a co-lead on several outreach and DEIA related groups within the University Libraries. She is passionate about creating community spaces that help people feel welcomed, valued, heard and joyful, and will continue to pursue this commitment to inclusion and belonging in her work for the LGBTQIA+ Alliance.

Nikki Singer, Co-Lead

Nikki Singer is the administrative coordinator of the CMU Portugal Program. In 2023, she took an exciting leap, leaving her home in Texas to make her way to Pittsburgh and start her adventure at CMU. Before taking on her current role, Nikki was a middle school theatre teacher and academic advisor, always passionate about inspiring others. She earned an MFA in performance and pedagogy from Texas Tech University. Throughout her career in education, Nikki has been all about fostering community and helping people grow. She's really excited to see how her experiences will contribute to the LGBTQIA+ Alliance. When she's not working, Nikki loves diving into a good book, getting creative with crafts or hanging out with her dogs.

Paige Zalman, Member Liaison

Paige Zalman (she/her) is the associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development, where she helps connect undergraduate students to research opportunities on and off campus and advises undergraduates, graduate students and alumni applying to competitive national and international scholarships and fellowships. Prior to coming to Carnegie Mellon and joining the LGBTQIA+ Alliance in 2022, Paige worked in the Office of Undergraduate Research at West Virginia University, where she served on the university's LGBTQ+ Commission. Paige holds a Ph.D. in higher education and an master of arts degree in musicology, and she has used her platform as a researcher in these fields to highlight inequities faced by queer college students as well as to explore the role of gender and sexuality throughout music history. Outside of work, she enjoys performing with local musical ensembles, indoor rock climbing, and spending time with her partner and their two dogs.