Our Mission, Vision & Leadership
Our Mission
Lambda provides professional, social, and academic support for bisexual, lesbian, gay, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual members of the University of Virginia School of Law community.
Our Vision
Lambda also aims to educate and advocate on issues concerning the LGBTQIA community. This includes raising awareness and advocating on issues regarding members of the community who have intersectional identities and the ways in which identities operate within systems of power, privilege, and oppression.
The Executive Board
President
Marissa Varnado (she/they) '26
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Undergrad/Grad: Johns Hopkins University/ Lipscomb University (Masters of Education)
Favorite Lambda Activity: Halloqueen! Our famous Halloween party :)
Why I love Lambda: I love Lambda because it is such a diverse and interesting group of people who are so hardworking and thoughtful and care deeply about the LGBT community and who also know how to through a dang good party *cowboy hat emoji*
Email: sjw9sk@virginia.edu
Executive Board Positions
President
Executive Vice President
Chief of Staff
Treasurer
VP for Inclusivity, Service, & Advocacy
VP for Community Engagement
VP for Social Engagement
VP for Professional Development (2)
Maddie Heimstead-Mercil (they/them) '26
Executive Vice President
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Undergrad/Grad: University of Minnesota
Favorite Lambda Activity: Halloqueen
Why I love Lambda: I love the people I’ve met! Lambda helped me feel at home in law school.
Email: asf8zh@virginia.edu
Alex Webb (he/him) '26
Chief of Staff
Hometown: Ashland, OR
Undergrad/Grad: Lewis and Clark College
Favorite Lambda Activity: 40th Anniversary Gayla
Why I love Lambda: It's been great finding a fun community of queer people at UVA! Everyone is so kind, and welcoming, and we also know how to have a good time at events.
Email: tfu2wk@virginia.edu
Mason Marché (he/him) '26
Treasurer
Hometown: Haymarket, VA
Undergrad/Grad: University of Virginia
Favorite Lambda Activity: Mentorship
Why I love Lambda: It’s great to have an inclusive and affirming community here on grounds!
Email: mam6zr@virginia.edu
Elizabeth Gilbert (she/her) '26
Vice President for Inclusivity, Service, & Advocacy
Hometown: Montpelier, VT
Undergrad/Grad: University of Colorado Boulder
Favorite Lambda Activity: The DANCE FLOOR at any Lambda party/event.
Why I love Lambda: I'm so honored to be a part of a vibrant queer community that prioritizes inclusivity and gathering together.
Email: zch3tb@virginia.edu
Laurel Lehman (she/her) '26
Vice President for Community Engagement
Hometown: Victor, NY/ Washington, DC
Undergrad/Grad: Yale University
Favorite Lambda Activity: 40th Anniversary Gayla & staying in touch with alums!
Why I love Lambda: Love having a group of warm, welcoming, wonderful folks who just “get it” — friendly faces in the hall and endless laughs when we get together!
Thomas Nolan (he/him) '26
Vice President for Social Engagement
Hometown: Tappan, NY
Undergrad/Grad: Cornell University/ Oxford
Favorite Lambda Activity: Common House Happy Hour
Why I love Lambda: Lambda is a fantastic place to make your queer community at UVA! Lambda is diverse, active, and unique to each class - it’s a fantastic place to make a group of friends at UVA.
Email: zch6tz@virginia.edu
Alexis Hill (she/her) '26
Vice President for Professional Development
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Undergrad/Grad: New York University
Favorite Lambda Activity: 40th Anniversary Gayla & anytime we get together
Why I love Lambda: I love lambda because it’s given me incredible lifelong friends, and the space to explore how I fit into the legal world without compromising any part of myself.
Email: uwa7xj@virginia.edu
Derek Furr (he/him) '26
Vice President for Professional Development
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Undergrad/Grad: UC Berkeley
Favorite Lambda Activity: Halloqueen
Why I love Lambda: I love Lambda because it’s a little queer oasis. I was initially nervous about leaving a big, gay city to attend law school, but Lambda has been a great support system and made me feel at home.