Alumna "Lives Justice" as a Leading Voice for Equality in Ohio

Alana Jochum, Managing Director of Equality Ohio. Courtesy Equality Ohio

Alumna Alana Jochum ’05 has been fighting for LGBT equality long before the recent Supreme Court ruling that legalized same sex marriage. Now an attorney and managing director for Equality Ohio, Jochum was a campus leader on equality as a BW undergrad. She headed up BW Allies a gay-straight alliance that promotes an accepting campus environment for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. After earning a bachelor’s degree in both English and psychology, she has continued to advocate for LGBT equality for more than a decade.

Following graduation, volunteered in Mumbai, India with the nongovernmental organization, Humsafar Trust, which focuses on advancing LGBT rights in India. When she returned to the U.S., Jochum worked with United Way of Greater Cleveland and volunteered for the Human Rights Campaign.

In 2007, she continued her education at the Cleveland State University Marshall College of Law where she served as Editor in Chief of the Cleveland State Law Review, won a regional moot court Best Brief award and, at her 2010 graduation, was given the very first “Learn Law, Live Justice” award for dedicating her education to the cause of justice.

After practicing law as an associate at Squire Patton Boggs, LLC for four years,  Jochum joined Equality Ohio as managing director in 2014 where she now works full-time as an advocate for statewide LGBT equality.