Meet Our Board!
The Mildred Berryman Institute is organized and run solely by volunteers. Without them, this important work would not happen.
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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 1991 and 1992.
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Founding Member | Treasurer | Treasured Treasurer
He/They
Randy Hoffman is a graduate student of history, preservationist, and quilter. Randy has a bachelor degree in History Education and is a former middle school teacher. Randy focuses on social histories, place-making, Queerness, and community-based historical and archival work. They are currently writing about Oscar Wilde in Utah, the development of Utah’s LGBTIQ+ community and political organizations, and biographical piece on Joe Redburn.
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Founding Member | Secretary | Office SirenShe/They
Megan Weiss is a PhD Candidate in US History at the University of Utah specializing in material culture, embodiment, and public memory in the American West. Her work on the Daughters of Utah Pioneers interrogates the gendered aspects of public history labor as well as its material dimensions, specifically in artifact preservation, museum design, and historical pageantry. Her background as a public historian prior to graduate studies includes collections care and management at the Utah State Historical Society and Fort Douglas Military Museum, reference work at the Salt Lake County Archives, and hosting the weekly radio show about peculiar and pivotal events in Utah history, The Beehive Archive, through Utah Humanities.
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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.
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.