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Seacoast Outright Leadership
Executive Director
Hershey Hirschkop
hershey@seacoastoutright.org | she/her/hers
Hershey Hirschkop cut her teeth at Gay Community News in Boston, at the time one of the few lesbian and gay national newspapers in the US. Her life as an activist took many turns, but never ceased. While the majority of her career was spent first as an architect, and later in non-profit affordable and supportive housing development, she has stayed involved in key social justice issues, including affordable housing and LGBTQ rights.
Aside from late nights catching up on email, Hershey enjoys birding, beekeeping, and admits to being born and raised in Massachusetts. She is now settled in Seacoast Maine with her partner of many years, as well as a variety of farm critters.
Community Outreach & Education Coordinator
Jessica Goff
jessica@seacoastoutright.org | she/her/hers
Jess joined Seacoast Outright in 2021 as a University of New Hampshire MSW intern. She loved the organization so much that she decided to stay after graduating with her Masters of Social Work degree in May of 2022.
Jess received her B.A in Human Development from Rivier University in 2018. During these undergraduate years, she was the treasurer of the university's GSA club. Since that time, she has worked in the nonprofit sector and has sought to create “safe spaces” in her work with both youth and individuals with Developmental Disabilities. Intersectionality for the win!!
Jess lives in Concord, NH with her partner and her cat, Zuzu. In her spare time, she enjoys engaging in social justice actions around the state and doing puzzles (in that order!)
Program Coordinator
Amy Rock
amy@seacoastoutright.org | they/them/theirs
Amy is originally from the Midwest and moved to the New England area in 2013. They have an interesting work history that mostly centers around advocacy. Before joining SO, Amy was working in Education and earned their BA from UNH in 2021. They were also Dover High School’s GSA Advisor, where they helped cultivate an inclusive club for all identities. Being in an advocacy role has helped Amy become more passionate about social justice issues and supporting marginalized youth.
Amy currently lives on a farm in Farmington, NH with their partner, two dogs, two cats and three guinea pigs. In their spare time, they love to be outdoors! Gardening, roller skating and traveling are some of their hobbies.
Board of Directors
Michael Haley
Board Chair| he/him/his
Michael grew up in Peterborough, NH. After earning his BA from Colby College, he worked in education in Akita, Japan for ten years, and then as a Japanese-English translator. He earned his JD from Harvard Law School in 2019 and now works as an attorney in the public sector. He joined the Seacoast Outright board in 2021 and looks forward to serving NH's LGBTQ+ youth community. Michael currently lives in Derry with his partner and their two dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking.
Joyce Kemp
Board Member | she/her/hers
After a BA from Brandeis and an MAT from Harvard in 1965, Joyce taught secondary school mathematics. She is currently retired with over 50 years’ experience in teaching, administration and curriculum development both in public and private high schools. Most recently at Phillips Exeter Academy, she served as a dorm head, tennis coach, and committee head, and has worked very closely with students on personal as well as national issues.
Joyce has been an advocate and ally of LGBTQ youth throughout her career, and Seacoast Outright is the perfect avenue for her energy and time. She has been on the Board since 2015. Joyce is married with a son and his wife in Utah and a daughter and her wife in Rye, NH.
Christine Stilwell
Treasurer & Parent Group Facilitator | she/her/hers
Christine Stilwell has been the Treasurer of Seacoast Outright since 2014. Christine joined SO to help get it back on its feet and to help provide opportunities for the seacoast area youth. She has been a math special education teacher at the Robert J Lister Academy in Portsmouth, NH for almost 20 years. She earned her Master's in Special Education from UNH. For fun she enjoys coaching and playing in local women's softball leagues and spending time with family and friends.
Sarah Buckley
Secretary & Facilitator | she/her/hers
Sarah Buckley earned a BA in Communications from Colby-Sawyer College in 2005. She joined Seacoast Outright in the winter of 2012 initially as an intern to help broaden her own experiences and get back to working with her college degree. A life-long ally for LGBTQ youth, Sarah soon became an advocate for those in the Seacoast. Within a year and a half, she joined the board of Seacoast Outright, and became the secretary in 2014. Sarah is also a long time facilitator for the youth meetings. Outside of Seacoast Outright she enjoys photography, reading, writing, spending time with her pug Cash, and spending time with family and friends.
Linda Fishbaugh
Board Member & Parent Group Facilitator | she/her/hers
After working many years in the travel industry Linda proudly transitioned to being a ‘Stay at Home Mom’ – raising 3 kids. Their youngest is Transgender and she transitioned between 3rd and 4th grade. This began a new passion for Linda – educating and advocating for Transgender Youth (and Adults). Speaking on panels at schools for educators and students, in Hospitals for doctors, nurses and staff about Compassionate Care for Transgender people and testifying at the State House in Concord for Transgender Rights.
It was a natural move for her to be on the Board at Seacoast Outright. She is passionate about helping other Parents of LGBTQ youth – especially parents of Transgender and Non-Binary kids! Outside of Seacoast Outright, Linda enjoys gardening, traveling, hanging out with her family, friends and her doggies, managing an Airbnb, and making bath and body products for her business, which gives a percentage of all sales to LGBTQ non-profits, organizations and camps.
Lee Hoginski
Board Member| he/him/his
Lee Hoginski is returning to the Board for his second stint, having served us faithfully in the 1990's. He has lived on the NH Seacoast for most of his life and currently divides his time between Rye, NH and West Palm Beach, FL and has maintained a thriving CPA practice for the past 35 years in Portsmouth NH. He brings his years of experience in financial planning and non-profit fundraising to the Board, along with his dedication to our LGBTQ community.
Alissa Cannon
Board Member | she/her/hers
Alissa Cannon, she/her, is the Executive Director for the New Hampshire Juvenile Court Diversion Network, a statewide Nonprofit Organization coordinating screening for substance use and mental health in juvenile court diversion programs. She has worked in the areas of prevention and community/school-based health education for nearly 15 years and has enjoyed every moment of it. She also proudly serves on many advisory boards in NH related to youth health and wellness.
Alissa is originally from south Louisiana, but now resides in New Hampshire with her wife and their two rescue dogs, Conrad and Gronk.
Kelsey Boucher
Board Member| she/her/they/them
Kelsey has a strong commitment to promoting social justice and equity
in our community. Kelsey is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Social
Work at the University of New Hampshire. She coordinates the
undergraduate field internship program and works with seacoast
non-profits to create internship experiences which benefit both
students and the community. As a Social Worker, she worked primarily
with teens and knows how vital the support and programming from
Seacoast Outright is in supporting LGBTQ+ youth in our area.
Kelsey lives in Dover with her partner and daughter.
Cora Long
Board Member| she/her/hers
Cora grew up in the small coastal town of Wells, ME. After graduating high school, she moved to New Hampshire where she began her career working for the Department of State as a congressional liaison handling expedite, humanitarian and special immigration cases. She later transitioned into the non-profit sector, where she coordinated health care services at Families First in Portsmouth, NH. Cora has since taken on the role of Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator for Strafford County Public Health Network and has been providing education, sharing resources, developing campaigns, and assisting with program development throughout the region for the past 3 years.
Cora also sits on the steering committee for Dover Mental Health Alliance and dedicates her spare time towards efforts in harm reduction, supporting the LGBTQ+ population, and addressing homelessness. She is focused on serving high risk populations and ensuring that health care is inclusive, trauma informed, stigma free and accessible for everyone. Cora is a suicide loss survivor, and has lived experience with substance use disorder, trauma and mental illness. She lives in Rochester, NH and is mother to one daughter and an adopted rat terrier/Chihuahua mix named Six. In her spare time she enjoys live music, painting and thrifting.
Lloyd Ziel
Board Member| he/him/his
Coming soon!
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