Board of Directors

Alli Nisley

President

Alli (she/her) has been a resident of Champaign County since 2008. Her professional life has spanned across industries and positions in retail, service, and food and beverage, and now Alli works for the City of Champaign. Walking through so many different parts of this community over the course of so many years gives Alli a unique perspective she can bring to her work with Uniting Pride. She's also been an active volunteer with UP since nearly the beginning of UP's history. This means she's gotten to watch the organization grow and change, and is honored to step into this new leadership role as Uniting Pride embarks on the most ambitious period to date. In particular, you may recognize Alli from her deep involvement with Pride Fest, serving as the operations and logistics manager for the program (and being given the honorary title of "Head Lesbian In Charge").

Shaciarra Hamilton

Vice President

Dr. Shaciarra Hamilton (she/her) is a psychologist at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Counseling Center. Dr. Hamilton received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Xavier University of New Orleans in 2022. She completed her Predoctoral Internship at the UIUC Counseling Center in 2022 and has been working as a Clinical Counselor at the Counseling Center since. As a psychologist, Dr. Hamilton serves in a clinical role through therapeutic services, engages in outreach planning and executions, and serves on several administrative and outreach committees. Dr. Hamilton is a generalist and enjoys working with a variety of clinical presentations, and her professional emphases include multiculturalism concerns, queer issues, relational and cultural issues, identity development, trauma, disordered eating, and body image. Dr. Hamilton believes in the power of connection, community, and collaboration. Dr. Hamilton is originally from Mississippi, loves sweet tea and Laffy taffy jokes, and can be found riding horses, doing archery, or spending time with family and friends when not working or volunteering. 

Adelaide Aime

Treasurer

Adelaide Aime (she/her) is honored and thrilled to be serving on the Board of Uniting Pride as a
proud ally of LGBTQ+ people and causes. Before retiring in 2020 after a 35-year career in social services, Adelaide served as Executive Director of two local social service agencies. Through that work she became familiar with all aspects of non-profit fiscal management for small organizations. As Treasurer of Uniting Pride, she sees herself as a technician. Along with ensuring that the staff are paid and the bills up-to-date, it is her job to communicate the financial consequences of each proposed idea, activity or option to the Board of Directors. She’s also eager to work with agency leaders, clients and supporters to maintain and nurture a fiscally-sustainable agency, insuring a solid financial foundation for future programs. When not pouring over spreadsheets, Adelaide enjoys retirement by spending more time with friends and family, attending book discussion group, renovating a 150-year-old farmhouse, baking, and visiting her kids who both live in California.

Jacqueline Kalipeni​

Secretary

Jacqueline (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of The Kalipeni Foundation, a 501c(3) organization dedicated to serving the communities of Luncheza, Malawi by providing water, education, and safe spaces for girls. Jacqueline was born in Malawi, Africa, but raised in America with her five siblings. The value of helping your fellow man came from the old African teachings that were instilled by her parents. Jacqueline attended the University of Illinois at Urbana, where she learned the power of using her voice. She is passionate about teaching people the power of only one human, importance of community, and that even as one, you can stand for one thousand. Jacqueline is one of the warmest examples that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if only given the opportunity to dream further than what they can see. Jacqueline has vast experience in education, international relations, social services, and volunteering. She is also a dynamic speaker offering workshops, trainings, guest lectures, and keynote addresses at churches, organizations, and academic institutions.

Jess Schlipf

Member At Large

​Jess (they/them) was born and raised in Central Illinois. For the past twenty-five years they have been involved in community music, theater, and other various performing arts. You may have seen them performing in plays and musicals at Parkland and the Station Theater. For the past five years, they have been performing as a drag king under the monicker Spank Knightly (alt: Mr. Knightly) in various cities across the country. When not performing, they work at the Virginia Theater as a box office receptionist. Jess is very excited to be more involved in the community at large, and is looking forward to the opportunity to help the UP Center do just that.
Jess enjoys drawing, cartoon and animation history, video games, building a dollhouse, their spouse, and their dog, Nugget.

Avery Shaffer

Member At Large

Avery (they/them) has been a central Illinois resident their whole life. Coming from a small rural town they were first pushed to fight for queer spaces in high school when a counter petition struck down an attempt to establish the school's first Gay-Straight Alliance. Knowing the importance of community, they relocated to Champaign-Urbana in 2010 to be closer to the established Goth/Industrial scene, which they are still an active member of. When not at home with their partner and three cats they can be found with local performance troupes showing off their skills with fire and physical comedy, using their platform to make others laugh or to promote social issues such as the struggles trans youth are facing today.

Staff

Joshua Gavel

Interim Director of Operations

Joshua Gavel (He/They/Any) grew up in Champaign County before graduating from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelors in Fashion Design & Merchandising in 2018. After some time in Chicago, he returned to the 217 eager to get involved. Josh has long been passionate about volunteering, advocacy, and program development, being actively involved in leadership in multiple student and community organizations and volunteering with Planned Parenthood in high school to leading Styling for a Cause, the Fashion Design and Merchandising Association, and Alpha Rho Chi as President during his time at SIU. After college Josh worked with Macy’s midwest flagship as a member of their leadership team, managing their children’s division, SantaLand, their seasonal onboarding, and serving as the Manager in Charge of Community Outreach and Giving. In this role Josh was fortunate enough to expand his passion for community outreach and development while raising funds for local and national philanthropies such as Bernie’s Books, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Center on Halsted, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Trevor Project. He continued his path into nonprofit work by serving as a Regional Director with Alpha Rho Chi’s national leadership team, helping to develop young leaders in the art, architecture, and design fields. When not working or volunteering Josh loves to spend his time watching movies with his partner and their dog, Ralph, as well as continue exploring his passions for fashion and graphic design, music, and literature. Josh previously served as UP's Operations Manager and Associate Director and is excited to continue to advocate and support the LGBTQIA+ community as Interim Director of Operations. ​

​Aiden Novinska

​Operations Coordinator

Aiden (he/him) graduated from Illinois State University in 2022 with a B.S. in Mass Media and moved to the CU area shortly after. His work experience spans marketing, events, and food and beverage, and he's excited to begin the rewarding journey of non-profit work. Aiden served as a Marketing Assistant in the ISU Dean of Students office while in school, spent time volunteering with the Humane Society of Central Illinois, and holds a certificate from the American Red Cross in Adult and Pediatric First Aid and CPR. He is eager and honored to give back to a community that has given so much to him. Outside of work, you’ll find him traveling, making art, and playing with his dog. ​

Madison Palmer

Finance and Administration Manager

​Madison (she/her) grew up in Central Illinois and graduated with a Masters of Science and a Masters of Art from Eastern Illinois University. Madison got started in advocacy during her undergraduate degree at Western Illinois University, and has brought her passion and care for people into her career in the nonprofit sector. After working in Los Angeles for two years in digital equity, advocacy, anti-racism, and program management working with formerly incarcerated individuals, she is excited to bring her experiences and skills to the community she calls home and grow with the Uniting Pride team. Outside of work Madison enjoys traveling, scary movies, and trying new restaurants.

Anika Warner

Youth and Family Coordinator

Anika (She/Her) is a native Canadian, but calls the Washington DC metropolitan area home. Her family is new to Champaign County and excited to be joining the community. Anika began her LGBTQ work as a high schooler helping to found her school’s GSA and volunteering with the Rainbow Family Network. She then went on to University and worked at the University of North Florida’s LGBT Center and later the University of Maryland’s LGBT Resource Center. From there she joined HIPS, a DC harm-reduction organization supporting intravenous drug users and sex workers, as an intern. She then joined SMYAL as the GSA Network specialist. At SMYAL her work included creating teenage specific programing for education and activism around LGBTQ equity. She facilitated support groups and trainings, developed curricula, and organized youth symposiums and educational summer camps. Since then Anika has focused on growth as an artist while working in various fields from bartending to starting her own face printing business. She has spent the last 4 years being a full time parent to her 4-year-old. Joining Uniting Pride as the Youth and Family Coordinator marks her reintroduction to non-profit work and she cannot wait to grow with the UP family!

Committees

Uniting Pride committees address many important issues of interest to the Champaign County LGBTQ+ community. Our committees have helped to implement and organize pride festivals, develop and create fundraisers, and foster a warm and welcoming environment for all. We’re in the process of expanding our committees in a large way. If you are interested in learning more about what it means to serve on a committee, click HERE and expand the Committees Section.

Existing Uniting Pride Committees:
Executive Committee
​Finance Committee
Fundraising and Outreach Committee
​Youth and Family Committee