Contact

Director | director@lawrencekspride.com

Shania Lopez-Cabrera

Shania Lopez-Cabrera (she/her) is the 2025-26 Director of Lawrence Pride. Shania works for a local nonprofit, and is a student in the Master of Public Administration program in the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and hanging out with her wife, Irene, and their five cats.

After moving to Lawrence from Ottawa in 2014, she found community through her involvement in organizations like the Jayhawk Breakfast Rotary Club, LWN, the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, and eventually our very own Lawrence Pride, serving as Finance Chair from 2023 to 2024 before stepping into the Director role. Shania is excited to continue to support the organization and community she loves so much!

Director of Finance | finance@lawrencekspride.com

Frankie Hernandez

Info coming soon!

Director of Fundraising | fundraising@lawrencekspride.com

Derek Dunn

Originally from Valley Center near Wichita, KS, Derek is a dedicated leader with a passion for education, service, and community engagement. As a former Eagle Scout, GSA President, and Student Body President, he brings a wealth of experience in leadership and service. With almost 7 years of living in Lawrence, Derek's commitment to service and community engagement is highlighted with his work as the Chair of Fundraising for Lawrence Pride.

Director of Community Engagement | community@lawrencekspride.com

Valerie Metzler

Val has been living in Lawrence since 2005, when they attended KU for metal smithing and archaeology. They currently work at The Merc and are the drag artist Marie Queerie. They have been a huge part of the queer community in LFK for decades and bring their unique perspectives to the Lawrence Pride Board. Always looking for new ways to support the community, they would love to hear from you!

Director of Events | events@lawrencekspride.com

Josh Coulter

Josh Coulter (he/him) grew up in the Kansas City area before moving to Lawrence in 2012 to attend the University of Kansas where he graduated with a BS in Biology.

After spending three years in Topeka, he returned to Lawrence in 2024 and now serves as Events Chair for Lawrence Pride. While in Topeka, Josh served on the Topeka Pride Board, including as Vice President and Events Chair, where he helped launch the city's first June Pride celebration in many years.

Outside of Pride, Josh is a local REALTOR® who enjoys restoring historic homes and spending time with his doggo Orville and kitty gals Nola and Susu.

Director of Communications | contact@lawrencekspride.com

Fally Afani

Fally Afani is an award-winning journalist with a career spanning nearly three decades in media. She has worked extensively in radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and more.
 
Fally’s work has been featured in magazines, newspapers, and television stations across Kansas. She has received several Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards as well as an Edward R. Murrow award for her online work in journalism. Fally is also a two-time recipient of the Rocket Grant Award, which helped develop live music and cultural events for her community. 
 
Currently, she resides in Lawrence, Kansas, with her family and her dog Agador Spartacus.

Secretary

| secretary@lawrencekspride.com

Siobhan Kirchstein

Siobhan Kirchstein (she/her) came to Lawrence in 2017 for a Religious Studies graduate program at KU. In her free time she loves to read, sing karaoke, play pool, and bowl.

Discovering the Lawrence queer community in 2024, Siobhan has spent the time since making friends and connections, and has become a regular presence in the downtown queer scenes.

Joining Lawrence Pride as a committee member in 2025, she now serves on the board as the secretary, a role in which she hopes to make her contribution to the Lawrence Pride organization and the Lawrence queer community as a whole.