Our Board Members
Kirsten Strough
Board Chair
Kirsten Strough (She/Her) is a lifelong Idahoan, born and raised in a small town in the Treasure Valley where she didn’t feel safe coming out. But when she attended Boise State University, she met others in the LGBTQIA+ community who were supportive, giving her the the permission and courage to be herself…
Javier Smith
Board Treasurer
Javier Smith (He/Him/They) has been serving on the The Community Center board since 2014 but has been serving the LGBTQ+ community for decades.
He grew up in North Idaho/Eastern Washington and was involved with college and local queer advocacy groups in Pullman, WA and…
Nicole Leahy
Board Secretary
Nicole Leahy (she/her) grew up in Boise, Idaho. She left for education and pursued her science career in 1989, not to return until late June 2024. During her time away from Boise, she came out as a transwoman. Although dedicated to her career, she always sought out volunteer opportunities and has campaigned for marriage equality in four states…
Emily Ryan
Board Member
Emily’s (She/Her) professional background is mostly in writing and editing, with a bachelor’s in Creative Writing from BSU and 13 years of experience with journalism, fiction, poetry, technical communication, and content management in various roles at Idaho Media Corporation…
Judy Cross
Board Member
Judy Cross (she/her) has been involved in TCC since it transitioned from “Your Family, Friends, and Neighbors” to “The Community Center” in the late 1990s, and she has been a board member on and off since 2003.
She retired from 40 years at St Luke’s as the 1st Clinical Nurse Specialist in Idaho but continues to provide care coordination and advocacy for patients with complex medical needs…
Katie Swanson
Board Member
Katie (she/her) grew up in Idaho in a conservative religious environment (and can tell you a lot about church camp as a result!) and began her journey of self-discovery and acceptance later in life, quietly starting to come out well into adulthood. She is deeply grateful to the representation in TV shows and books that helped her find the language to understand her experiences and identity…
Taylor Payne
Board Member
Taylor Payne (she/her) grew up in Denver, Colorado, but made the leap to Boise in 2015 after earning her degree in Secondary Education. While Denver will always be part of her story, Boise quickly became her true home. It’s where she’s built her life, had two babies, and embraced her identity as a queer woman. Taylor’s journey has been one of growth—personally, professionally, and in her sense of community…
Mak Dowell
Board Member
“I’m here for health equity.”
Through her own lived experience recovering from bulimia nervosa and BED (binge eating disorder), Makailah discovered a passion for pursuing health equity. Along with her work as Lead Peer Mentor at Equip, she also serves on the AED Committee for DEIB, volunteers at ANAD as a group lead and group supervisor…
Liz Hansen
Board Member
Bio coming