The PROMO & PROMO Fund Boards announced this week that they have named Steph Perkins as the new Executive Director of PROMO. Perkins has served as interim director of PROMO for more than four months and has been with the organization for more than seven years.
Prior to assuming the role of interim director, Perkins served as Deputy Director for nearly five years. Perkins first joined PROMO as a volunteer in 2006 and became a Southwest Missouri Field Organizer, based in Springfield, beginning in 2008. Perkins assumed the role of Interim Director when A.J. Bockelman announced his departure. Perkins will relocate to St. Louis this spring.
“Steph will offer deep knowledge of PROMO, tremendous leadership skills and true passion for equality as Executive Director,” said Kelly Hamilton, chair of the PROMO and PROMO Fund Boards. “This is a pivotal time for PROMO and for our mission of securing full equality for LGBT Missourians, and we have absolute confidence that Steph is the right leader to guide our organization on this next step of our journey.”
During his more than seven years with PROMO, Perkins has been involved with a number of vital initiatives, including working for more than six years to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance in Springfield; coordinating with the One Springfield NO Repeal Campaign, which attempted to secure a nondiscrimination ordinance, losing by only an incredibly small margin in a conservative stronghold in the state; working with the PROMO field team to secure wins and progress across Missouri in passing nondiscrimination ordinances, health equality and statewide education; and leading cultural competency trainings for university staff, employers and community members.
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve as PROMO’s Executive Director at this pivotal time,” Perkins said. “In my tenure at the organization, we have come a long way, both as an organization, as a community, and as a movement. I am dedicated to continue our current work on things like nondiscrimination and health equity, with an intentional focus on transgender equality and intersectionality. I’m grateful to take these steps alongside an incredible team of staff, board members, and volunteers.”
Read more about Steph here.