Making the world a better place, helping one student at a time.

Our Mission

The mission of The Rainbow STEM Alliance, Inc. shall be to promote acceptance and inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, etc. youth within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics educational fields.

The Rainbow STEM Alliance (RSA) was founded by Jon Kentfield, Brian Boehler and Tom Wexler in 2018. These three are alumni and volunteers of FIRST , a global robotics organization community preparing young people for the future. They saw through the students involved that there is a need to help and support LGBTQ+ youth competing on teams.​

Board of Directors

Jon Kentfield, he/him
President and co-founder

Jon Kentfield has been a participant in FIRST since 2000 as a student on a FIRST LEGO League team, and went on to be a part of FIRST Robotics Competition Team 173, as well as mentor their FIRST initiatives through FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO League. He has gone on to volunteer for the different FIRST programs in some capacity since 2003. He has seen first hand what it means to students to have this resource, and continues to promote LGBTQ+ of FIRST at every event possible, usually by wearing a lapel pin, and attending the LGBTQ+ of FIRST meet ups whenever possible.

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Devyn K., she/her
Board Member

Tom Wexler, he/him
Treasurer and co-founder

Tom Wexler started as a student in 2000 on a FIRST Robotics Competition team, and began volunteering in 2003.  As a volunteer, Tom has served as a former Senior Volunteer Coordinator for FIRST Mid-Atlantic and a current MC in FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge. He has also mentored FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition Teams in the greater Philadelphia area. Tom currently works in the Technology Department for a suburban K-12 public school district. He sees how important representation and equity are for LGBTQ+ students within STEM competitions, and hopes that this new organization can have a meaningful impact on students across the globe.

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Rae E., they/them
​Board Member

Rae joined the FIRST community in 2008 when they joined FRC team 1255 as a student and began volunteering in 2011. Rae is a Head Referee for FRC and FLL in Texas and mentors FIRST teams in Central Texas. Rae currently works as a software engineering manager at a tech startup. Rae sees how impactful being part of FIRST is for students and hopes to help the FIRST community become a safe space for all.

Brian Boehler, he/him
​Secretary and co-founder

Brian Boehler has been a part of FIRST since 1999 when he joined a FIRST LEGO League team. Since then, he has helped to mentor and coach various teams. In 2007, he began judging and volunteering at events and in 2011, became the Robotics Director for an education-based non-profit. Now, he runs events for all 4 levels of FIRST Programs within the Northern Indiana area. He knows the impact of STEM and youth robotics programs and the skills it can encourage and foster within students. Providing encouragement and support to LGBTQ+ in STEM is just one way we can have diversity and inclusion within these amazing youth programs.
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Tristan D., he/him
Board Member