Domenico Ruggerio (he/him)

I have a BA from Colgate University in sociology and anthropology (2008) and a master’s degree in humanistic/multicultural education from SUNY New Paltz (2014). I currently serve as the Executive Director of We Are Family, a Southern Grassroots non-profit organization whose mission is to provide affirming spaces for LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, etc.) and ally youth up to the age of 24 through direct support, leadership development, and community engagement. Prior to joining We Are Family, I served as the Director of Education, Advocacy, and Systems Transformation at Teach For America South Carolina. Previously, I held higher education administrative roles that supported and empowered students of color and LGBTQ+ students and communities at the College of Charleston, Bard College, Vassar College, and Oberlin College in Ohio.

​I am formally certified in social justice mediation from the Social Justice Mediation Institute, UMass Amherst (50 credit hours), and have skills in multipartial mediation, facilitation, and conflict resolution. I was raised in the Philippines and on Long Island. In my free time, I am an active member and Vice President of the Charleston Blockade Rugby Club— the state’s first gay sports team.