Dear Lambda Community,

In 2019, I joined the USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association as a volunteer. I was invited to the board by Tom Henkenius, who saw something in me before I saw it myself. Tom, thank you for being my anchor in those early days — for your steady guidance and belief in what I had to offer.

This month, I’ll be stepping away from my role as executive director. It’s hard to put into words what these last three years have meant to me. Lambda has been more than a job — it has been a calling. A space where purpose met community, where healing met leadership, and where the fullness of who I am was never too much.

Working alongside Tiffany Brooks, our associate director, has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life. Tiffany, your brilliance, creativity and commitment have made every success possible. You’ve poured excellence and heart into every corner of this work.

In 2023, we celebrate Lambda’s 30th anniversary — a milestone that reminded us how far we’ve come and how much farther we can go. That same year, we expanded our signature events. From our Scholars Welcome Luncheon to the Garden Affair Scholarship Benefit, we created spaces of joy, remembrance and radical belonging for LGBTQ+ Trojans of all generations.

By 2024, under the past, present and future leadership of Erika Hartman, Kyle Lynn and Kim Hayden, we welcomed new voices, deepened our programming and renewed our commitment to service. Together, we grew the Lambda endowment by 54% — a historic leap that brought our endowment into the seven-figure range for the first time. That number is more than a milestone — it’s a testament to what’s possible when a community believes in itself. After careful consideration, I know it’s the right time for me to step aside and make space for what’s next. And I do so knowing that real change always follows collective vision.

I’m especially grateful to Amy Ross, trustee and past Lambda president, for your steady support and wisdom. And to Donald L. Gabard, Lambda’s founder — your vision built this house, but your continued presence has sustained it. Thank you for showing us what it means to lead with pride and purpose.

I also want to thank Danielle Harvey, our associate vice president for alumni relations. Danielle, your clarity, trust and values-driven leadership have shaped Lambda’s evolution in powerful ways. I’m grateful for the space you made for me to lead.

As I pass the baton, I do so with full confidence in the team that will carry Lambda forward. Under the care of Erika Jordan, our associate senior vice president for alumni relations, I know this next chapter will be one of innovation, inclusion and expanded impact.

To all of you — our alumni, students, parents, allies, partners and friends — thank you. Thank you for believing in Lambda. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for letting me lead, walk beside you, and be changed by you.

With pride and gratitude,

Brandon Kyle EdD ’19
Executive Director
USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association