NEW YORK — Aug. 14, 2013 — GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, today officially announced that Kyra Sedgwick, Emmy®, Golden Globe® and People's Choice® Award winning actress, will join its National of Board Directors. Ms. Sedgwick shared the news on the Aug. 13 episode of Bravo TV's late-night talk show "What What Happens: Live" to host Andy Cohen.
"There is just no room in our education system for bullying, and GLSEN is on the frontlines striving to make schools safer for not only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, but for all youth," said Ms. Sedgwick. "I have been a GLSEN supporter for years and am excited to become even more involved with their outstanding mission to create safe and respectful schools for our young people."
"We are thrilled to have Kyra join our Board, and look forward to having her lend her voice and efforts to helping us ensure that every child is treated with respect," said Dr. Eliza Byard, GLSEN's Executive Director. "I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside a talented and committed Board to advance our mission and Kyra is now the latest remarkable addition to our ranks."
Ms. Sedgwick is best known for her starring role as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on the TNT crime drama "The Closer." Sedgwick's role in the series won her a Golden Globe Award in 2007 and an Emmy Award in 2010. The series ended on August 13, 2012, following the completion of its seventh season. Sedgwick made her acting debut at the age of 16 on the TV soap opera "Another World," and in 1988 co-starred in a TV version of Lanford Wilson's "Lemon Sky." During the 1990s she appeared in several Hollywood movies, including "Singles" (1992), "Heart and Souls" (1993), "Something to Talk About" (1995) and "Phenomenon," in which she played the love interest of John Travolta's character. In addition, she starred in the Emmy Award—winning made-for-TV film "Miss Rose White" as a Jewish immigrant who comes to terms with her ethnicity, and played the parts of Mae Coleman in 2003's "Secondhand Lions" and Stella Peck in the 2007 film "The Game Plan." She also starred alongside her husband Kevin Bacon in the 2004 film "The Woodsman." In 2009, Ms. Sedgwick was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television.
Members of the 2013 GLSEN National Board of Directors include: GLSEN Board Chairman Kevin Brockman (Executive Vice President, Global Communications, Disney-ABC Television Group); Board Vice Chairman David Huebner (Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Utah); Board Treasurer Keith Powell (Chief Financial Officer & Vice President of Technology Solutions Group, Nortek Inc.); and Board Secretary Madelaine Adelman (Associate Professor, School of Justice and Social Inquiry, Arizona State University).
Additional board members include: Rohini Anand (Senior Vice President and Global Chief Diversity Officer, Sodexo); Cindy Armine (Executive Vice President, JPMorgan & Chase Co.); Bob Chlebowski (Executive Vice President, Distribution Strategies and Services, Wells Fargo & Co.); Arthur L. Coleman (Managing Partner, Education Counsel, LLC); David H. Dancer (Vice President, Partnership Marketing, Teleflora); Daniel Duty (Vice President, Global Affairs, Target); Barbara Frankel (Senior Vice President & Executive Editor, DiversityInc.); Michael Lombardo (President of Programming, HBO); Michael Manthei (Partner, Holland & Knight LLP); Michele C. Meyer-Shipp, Esq. (Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer, Prudential Financial, Inc.); Ryan A. Pedlow (Principal and Managing Director, Ziff Brothers Investments); Brett W. Peterson (Director, The Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High); Kimberly Reed (Director, Big Sky Film Productions, Inc.); Michelle Scales (Product Innovation Director, JPMorgan & Chase Co.); Christopher Shyer (President, Zyloware Eyewear); Chip Sullivan (Head of Publicity, DreamWorks Studios); Tony Tenicela (Global Business Development Executive, IBM); Loan Tran (student, University of Washington); Sirdeaner Walker (safe schools advocate); John I. Wilson (former Executive Director, National Education Association); and Chely Wright (Founder, The LikeMe® Organization)
ABOUT GLSEN
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org .
