5XÉçÇø

2025 Alumni Keynote: Pete Finnerty, Ph.D.

Pete Finnerty (he/him/his) is a licensed professional clinical counselor and supervisor (LPCC-S), advocate, consultant, educator, and founder/clinical director of Grow Well Cleveland LLC, Visiting Assistant Professor of Counseling at Cleveland State University, and board member for Colors+ Youth Center. As an "out" queer clinician, educator, and advocate Pete believes in serving "with/for" the entire LGBTQ+ community and all those oppressed and marginalized by society. Pete received a B.A. in Psychology and Master's in Counseling (with emphasis in marriage and family therapy) from California State University-Fresno, followed by a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from 5XÉçÇø. He often looks back fondly at his KSU experience, given this was an expansive growth period as a person, professional, and advocate. As a clinician Pete has worked in college counseling centers, community agencies, crisis centers, private practice, and inpatient behavioral health centers. These experiences allowed Pete to hone a holistic, systemic approach while developing unique nutritional, physical activity, and advocacy/resistance techniques for therapy borrowed from other careers as an educator and fitness trainer. Particular tools Pete utilizes include activity/yoga therapy, EMDR, DBT, feminist narrative, and ACT in individual, dyad, and group settings. Pete's practice is based in affirmative, feminist, existential, and community wellness. Pete also enjoys counseling adolescent boys, athletes, couples, families, and many others at Grow Well Cleveland. 

Pete is also a professor in Cleveland State University's counseling program where he teaches assessment, clinical practicum & internship courses, family counseling, ethics, career development, personality development/assessment, and addictions recently. He has taught theory, cultural responsivity, research methods, psychopathology, service learning, and several specialty courses on LGBTQ+ issues and wellness during previous stints as an educator. Pete develops collaborative scholarly literature in these areas including a comprehensive set of competencies (currently being updated) for counseling the LGBTQ+ population as part of advocacy with the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE), a division of the American Counseling Association. Other publications and research interests include LGBTQ+ issues, social justice, advocacy, wellness, and technology in counseling. Pete advocates and organizes locally, regionally, and nationally for LGBTQ+ persons and other marginalized persons, military members/veterans, and professional counselors. Pete collaboratively began the Ohio division of SAIGE in 2011 and also joined the board for Colors+ Youth Center around the same time, serving as President until 2023. He has presented at local, state, and national conferences on LGBTQ+ issues, advocacy, wellness, supervision, teaching, and other topics. In his spare time you will find Pete running the trails and riding the roads of the greater Cleveland and national parks with his family.

Below are the past award winners and keynote speakers for Kent State's annual Lavender Celebration event.

Out & Proud Student Leader Award 

An LGBTQ+ identified student who exemplifies student leadership.

• Tori Swarm, 2013
• Kyle Dunn, 2015
• Brandon Stephens, 2016
• Gabrielle Cooper, 2017
• Kasey Willener, 2018
• Bella Bowman, 2019
• Jacob Dudley and Aaron Kessler, 2020
• Angela Molina, 2021
• Marz Anderson, 2022
• Breanna Cole, 2023
• Autumn Jacobs, 2024

Rising Star Award

First year student who has made tremendous effort to bring visibility, support, and leadership to the LGBTQ+ community at KSU.

• Willamina Davis, 2013
• Lucas Lyons, 2015
• Jordin Manning, 2016
• Stephen Francis, 2017
• Sean Short, 2018
• Cameron Aloway, 2019
• Graham LaRue Callahan, 2020
• Mac O’Neil, 2021
• Olivia Kozlowski, 2022
• Rachel Kleinhenz, 2023
• Florence Hite, 2024

Bridge Builder Award

Previously known as Outstanding Collaboration Ally until 2020, an ally or student organization that has worked collaboratively with LGBTQ+ organizations on campus to create a better place for LGBTQ+ identified people.

• Marvin Logan, 2013
• Mallory Galbreath, 2015
• Hillel at 5XÉçÇø, 2016
• David Rosen, 2017
• Career Exploration and Development, 2018
• Gingy Stypa, 2019
• Nico Rushh, 2020
• Chaz Jackson, 2021,
• United Christian Ministries, 2022
• The Wick Poetry Center, 2023
• Undergraduate Student Government, 2024

Delores Noll Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award

Awarded to a faculty/staff member who has worked to create a better campus environment for LGBTQ+ identified people.

• Dr. Molly Merryman, 2015
• Dr. Cynthia Roller, 2016
• Dr. Dianne Kerr, 2017
• AJ Conway, 2018
• John Hummell, 2019
• Dr. Jay Sloan, 2020
• Erica Pelz, 2021
• Andrew Snyder, 2022
• Dr. Mahli Mechenbier, 2023
• Dr. Caitlin Kane, 2024

Alumni Award

Awarded to a Kent State alumni who makes efforts to create a better world for LGBTQ+ identified people. 

• Jeff Bixby, 2018
• T.J. Horwood, 2019
• Dr. Lis Regula, 2020
• Emmett Drugan, 2021
• Bill Hoover, 2022
• Dr. David Bender, 2023
• Dr. Kayla Heddens, 2024

Community Impact Award

Awarded to a community member who has worked to create a better environment on campus, in Kent, or in Ohio for LGBTQ+ identified people.

• Equality Ohio, 2018
• Shawn Schreckengost, 2019
• Bobbi Ullinger, 2020,
• Jacob Nash, 2021
• Fran Wilson, 2022
• Main Street Kent, 2023
• Danielle Schultz, 2024

Keynote Addresses

• 2013 - Dr. Molly Merryman
• 2014 - Steven Antalvari
• 2015 - Dr. Dianne Kerr and N.J. Akbar
• 2016 - Dr. Melody Tankersley 
• 2017 - Ronni Sanlo
• 2018 - Tom Serwatka, Alum | Student Keynote: Bridget Mazzola
• 2019 - President Beverly Warren | Student Keynote: Manny Jackson
• 2020 - N/A - COVID, not coordinated for this year
• 2021 - Virtual - Emmett Drugan, Alum
• 2022 - Brian Michael Smith 05’ | Student Keynote: Alexis Wilson
• 2023 - Michael Varrati, 05’, 07’ | Student Keynote: Natalia Cruz | Poem Reading: Lana Kuhlenschmidt
• 2024 - Luz N. Pellot, 92’ | Student: Rowan Marusek