If you are interested in joining the Pride Community Center Board, please reach out to us at info@pridecc.org.

2025 Board of Directors

Executive Members

President

Josh Tutt
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Josh grew up in Dallas, Texas, and has lived in the Brazos Valley since coming to Texas A&M University as a student in 2011. Josh and his husband, Rick, now live in Burleson County with their spoiled and much-loved blue heeler, Trinity. Josh has volunteered locally and advocated for causes such as safe sex education, alternative relationship dynamics, sexual health, and LGBTQ+ policy since 2016. He has been a Pride Community Center board member since March 2020 and has served as President since September 2022. He works in IT Helpdesk Management, and his passions include political LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, musical theatre, and storytelling games.

Vice President

Ken Johnson/Ima Hoot
Pronouns: Ken (He / Him/ His), Ima (She / Her / Hers)

Ken Johnson is a true Texan born in Fort Worth in 1954 and has resided in the Austin area as a shop owner/ hairdresser for 48 years. I’ve been a performing member of the Austin Babtist Women for 27 years, raising money for charities all over Texas. I was a former volunteer of the year for Project Transitions and also on the board of Friends of David Powell Clinic for over 10 years. I was elected Empress 8 of the United Court of Austin in 2000/2001 and continue performing and helping others….I also Miss Lone Star 28 and 29 of the Texas Conference of Clubs…I enjoy my Texas Longhorns, sports, my 2 dogs and
helping others.

Secretary

Ariel Tinney
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Ariel Tinney (she/her) is a highly versatile and driven individual with a multifaceted skill set and a deep commitment to social justice. She combines her education in policy and organizing with skills learned in the private and public sectors to achieve impactful results. Ariel’s graduate research was inspired by her work in the Stop G4S campaign, an effort to prevent companies convicted of human rights violations from acquiring city contracts. She is excited to have found a community at BVPCC.

Treasurer

Lilly McAlistir
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Board Members

Richard ‘Rick’ Burgess
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Rick is originally from Ingleside, Texas. He is a member of the Texas A&M University Class of 1997, and holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Poultry Science. He is a Certified Quality Auditor and Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional. After graduation, he moved away for work, living in Indiana, Minnesota, Ireland and Arizona. He has made a career as a microbiologist and sterilization engineer in the medical device industry. Rick relocated back to the B/CS area in 2012. He lives near Somerville with his husband Josh and their Blue Heeler Trinity. Rick is a founding member and President of Leather and Lace of the Brazos Valley. He has a history of community service and fundraising with various non-profit organizations, including while being Mr. Lonestar 27 for the Texas Conference of Clubs. He is excited to be a part of Pride Community Center, to help shape the goals and direction of PCC and further its mission. 
In his spare time, he enjoys travel, theatre, beaches, making wine and cooking. He hopes to learn from and enrich the local LGBTQIA+ community through ongoing engagement and personal action.

River Martinez
Pronouns: He/Him/His

River was raised in San Benito, TX (part of the Rio Grande Valley) and completed his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife & Fisheries at Texas A&M University. River now works in the Texas A&M Insect Collection with a love for the many forms of nature. 
River is passionate about advocating for marginalized groups and uplifting minority voices where possible. His goal is to help the Pride Community Center get a physical location as well as further his Trans Joy Project, which helps Transgender individuals obtain basic gender-affirming items.
When he has the time to spare, River enjoys going to parks, painting, helping others, spending time with his husband Marco Martinez (Melaka Mystika), and assisting local drag queens with their shows.

Amber Mastrobattista
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Amber joined the board of the Pride Community Center to be a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and equality. Amber believes in the center’s mission wholeheartedly and believes that safe spaces and support networks for the LGBTQIA+ community are vital to fostering a sense of inclusivity and empowerment.
She brings over 7 years of graphic design and marketing experience to the center, utilizing her skills to communicate messages of acceptance and belonging visually. She believes in the transformative power of community and strives to amplify the voices of those often marginalized.
Amber was born in Pennsylvania but has called the Bryan/College Station area home since 1999, where she has actively contributed to the local community. She graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with a bachelor’s degree in Art, honing her creative talents and passion for advocacy. Currently, she works at the Texas A&M University Bush School of Government and Public Service, where she continues to apply her skills in service to her community.
Amber is married to a wonderful husband named Matt, who is a local electrician’s apprentice, and they share their lives with two adorable Maltese dogs named Doodle and Pixel. In her free time, Amber is a huge nerd who loves playing board games, video games, fostering friendships and connections with individuals both online and in person. She is also a big crafter, enjoying sewing, knitting, crocheting, and drawing/illustrating as creative and meditative outlets.

Asher Richardson
Pronouns: He/Him/His

2025 Bush Board Fellow

The Pride Community Center is proud to announce its partnership with the Center of Nonprofits and Philanthropy at The Bush School of Government and Public Service through the Bush Board Fellows Program. This program allows a student to join our board as a non-voting member giving them the opportunity to learn the inner workings of a non-profit organization.

Molly Cress
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Molly is a first-year Masters of Public Service and Administration student at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.
Her involvement and passion for advoacy for the LGBTQ+ community began with her involvement in Freshmen Leading in Acceptance, Kindness, and Equality (FLAKE) where she serves as the Exective Director of Service.
Now she is working through the Bush Board Fellows program which allows her to serve as a non-voting member at the Pride Community Center. In her free time, Molly enjoys playing with her cat named Cat, reading, and crafting whatever her
heart desires.

Staff

Executive Director

Katy Dawn Stewart
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Our volunteer Executive Director, Katy, is an experienced leader in LGBTQ+ education and advocacy spheres, having served on boards of directors at the local, state, and national levels as well as serving as Executive Director of a state-level organization. She she has formerly served on the boards of Equality Texas and Transgender Education Network of Texas, as well as the Steering Committee for Trans Advocacy Network.
These days, she coaches and educates people about transgender life wherever she can. Notably, she has presented classes on working with transgender clients for the National Sexual Assault Conference of 2017, has presented at teacher in-service in working with transgender students, and regularly offers her unique expertise and insight in regard to these topics as well as capacity building for movements and nonprofits. During the summer of 2024, she will be completing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.