People

LGBT Life Staff

Michael D. Shutt, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Campus Life
Director of the Office of LGBT Life
Michael's Curriculum Vitae

Director's Job Description

Michael D. Shutt is the Assistant Dean for Campus Life and Director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Life at Emory University. He began his work at Emory in June 2008. Originally from Angola, Indiana, he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration from Michigan State University and his Doctor of Philosophy in Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.

As the Director of the Office of LGBT Life, Michael creates and enhances educational, social, and support programs and services for students regarding issues of sexual and gender identities. He directs the strategic planning efforts; prioritizes programs and services; manages all budgets; coordinates fundraising and grant activities; creates and implements program and service assessments; supervises student and professional staff; and advises individual students and student groups.

In addition to his work in the Office of LGBT Life, Michael serves on several committees on campus including the Transforming Communities Project Steering Committee; the President’s Commission on Sexuality, Gender Diversity, and Queer Equality; Emory Facilitator Network; Diversity Officer’s Council; Emory Chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute; and the Campus Life Assessment Committee. Michael is also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Counseling and Human Development at the University of Georgia’s College of Education and serves on the Executive Board of the National Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals.

Michael and his Husband live in Athens with their two dogs, a cat, and a host of unnamed fish!

Elizabeth E lkins
Assistant Director of the Office of LGBT Life

Assistant Director's Job Description

Elizabeth is the Assistant Director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life at Emory University. She received her Master of Mass Communication from the University of Georgia and her Bachelor of Arts from Emory University. She also serves as a Safe Space Facilitator, coordinates the LGBT Leaders Group, and manages publicity and marketing for the Office. Within the Division of Campus Life, she serves as Advisor to the Media Council, Chair of the Campus Life Marketing Committee and as a member (former Chair) of the Staff Development Committee.

Herlynn Benoit
Student Staff

Born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta with a strong Caribbean background and ethnicity, Herlynn is a member of Emory College's class of 2012. She is pursuing a double major in Linguistics and Anthroplogy with potential aspirations for a Master's in Public Health. Her spare time is spent running, eating, immersed in music, or spending time with friends, family and at her church - with which she is very actively involved. She is also a Ronald McDonald House volunteer, ESL tutor, PACE advisor and a member of JHealth 2009. She is always looking for ways to become more involved in her community, and continues to search for ways to ultimately make a personal connection and difference in the lives of a number of individuals.

Will O'Berry
Graduate Intern

Will O'Berry is an Intern with the Office of LGBT Life at Emory University. He is currently working on his Master of Education in College Student Affairs Administration at the University of Georgia where he also works as a Graduate Resident in University Housing. In this position, he supervises a staff of 6 Resident Assistants and works with nearly 1000 first year students in the Russell Community.

Will grew up in a small, rural town in Virginia. After graduating from high school, he attended Indiana University to study music performance. While there, he was able to work in a variety of paraprofessional positions within college student affairs. Upon graduation in 2006, he moved to Minneapolis to work as the Assistant Director for Campus Activities and Orientation and Coordinator for LGBTQIA Support Services at Augsburg College. He has also completed internships in college student affairs at Athens Technical College and Northern Illinois University.

Will enjoys listening to music, reading (especially concerning musicology, music history, social justice issues, science, and college student development), learning new things, and working out. He loves spending time with his partner, Brian, and his surrogate families from IU, Minneapolis, Athens, and Atlanta. His favorite food is a good burger.

Joe O’Geen
Student Staff

Joe O'Geen is a member of Emory's class of 2010 and is in pursuit of a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Studies with a Spanish minor.  In addition Joe is pre-dental and plans to attend dental school in order to pursue a career in general dentistry.  Joe is a native of North Carolina (go Tar Heels!), yet considers Atlanta home.  His high school alma mater was Pace Academy. 

In addition to being the Vice President of EASDA (Emory's American Student Dental Association), Joe is an Emory Blue and Gold Tour Guide, Orientation Captain for 2009, member of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, as well as a part of a few other organizations on campus. A part from his involvement with Emory organizations, Joe loves to run, listen to various genres of music, cook, watch movies, and explore Atlanta. Joe is passionate about life at Emory and is not afraid to share this passion with his peers and prospective students.  

Raphael Coleman
Student S taff

Raphael is an Emory College senior from Snellville, Georgia. He is majoring in Neuroscience/Behavioral Biology and Religion, with hopes to attain a public health degree in epidemiology. Raphael's goal is a Ph.D. in that field. He hopes to research ways to minimize major health disparities. He enjoys dancing and cooking.