A close-up portrait of Connell O'Donovan.

Meet Our Board!

The Mildred Berryman Institute is organized and run solely by volunteers. Without them, this important work would not happen.

  • Board Chair | Founding Member | Divine Empress

    He/She

    Connell O’Donovan is an independent historian, biographer, and professional genealogist, currently working on a book documenting the history of Drag in Utah from 1871-2021, as well as a film documentary on the double-suicide of two young LDS Lesbians in Salt Lake City in 1926. Connell is also best known for organizing the first Pride marches in Utah in 1990 and 1991.

  • Founding Member | Treasurer | Treasured Treasurer

    He/They

    Randy (he/they) is a public historian of Queer Utah, a first generation college student, Okie descendant, and fourth generation Jack Mormon. They are a graduate student in history at the University of Utah and a founding member of the Mildred Berryman Institute for LGBTIQ2S+ Utah History. Their work includes research on post-Stonewall Gay and Lesbian organizing in Utah, Utah's sodomy and anti-homosexual laws, and the Utah AIDS Memorial Project. They also direct the Mama Dragons Oral History Project. Guided by the belief that history can be an act of remembrance and justice, Randy uses archival research, oral histories, and public history to recover overlooked stories and make the past more accessible, meaningful, and connected to the communities it represents.

Megan Weiss, a woman with red hair, glasses, and a septum piercing smiling in front of a brick wall.


  • Founding Member | Secretary | Office Siren

    She/They
    Dr. Megan Weiss is a public historian, archivist, and educator who specializes in Utah history and the American West. She is deeply committed to making Utah history engaging and accessible to diverse audiences. With a strong emphasis on meticulous research, she was a Marriner S. Eccles Fellow in Political Economy at the University of Utah and has held fellowships with the Tanner Humanities Center, Utah Humanities, and the American West Center. She has also worked extensively in Utah museums and archives, including the Utah Historical Society, Fort Douglas Military Museum, and Salt Lake County Archives.

  • Volunteer | Tech + A/V Coordinator | Mx Druidess

    They/She

    Saoirse O’Hagan is a freelance creative, specializing in audio recording, lighting and camera operating. They’ve worked on many projects for PBS Utah, including the Regional Emmy award winning piece “Belonging”, which focuses on the history of drag in Utah. Her work with PBS and on other independent projects has always been focused on telling stories that uplift the communities they come from. She brings that same focus and passion for storytelling to the Mildred Berryman Institute to foster joy and understanding for Utah’s queer community and beyond.

  • Volunteer / Graphic Design + Marketing / Court Jester

    She/Her

    Claire is a freelance designer and artist. She works as a writer and designer in the independent language education sector. Her professional work focuses on how art can help cross cultural and language boundaries. Her personal artwork explores queerness, disability, and ecological justice. In her work with the Mildred Berryman Institute, she hopes to encourage the next generation of queer Utahns to embrace their heritage through art, joy, and color. 

We Need You!

The Mildred Berryman Institute became a federally-recognized tax-exempt organization in June of 2025. We are looking to expand our board considerably. If you are interested, we are accepting inquiries and applications on an ongoing basis. Please email info@mildredberrymaninstitute.org with a message and a resume or CV.